Monte Man targets Champions Day Sprint

Monte Man won his sixth straight race Saturday in the $60,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint at Louisiana Downs. His primary objective the remainder of the year is the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds, trainer Ron Faucheux said Monday.

The path Monte Man will take to that race, which holds a traditional December spot on the calendar, will be discussed with owner Brian Ivery.

“I’m going to get with Brian in the next week or two to come up with a game plan,” Faucheux said.

Faucheux said one option at Fair Grounds ahead of Louisiana Champions Day is the Heitai for Louisiana-breds.

“The Heitai fell on opening day last year, then there’s Champions Day three weeks after that,” Faucheux said.

Faucheux said before then there are limited Louisiana-bred stakes options and that could necessitate a fall trip out of state to perhaps Kentucky, Arlington Park, or Remington Park.

“I want to keep him winning, find reasonable spots for him,” Faucheux said. “I don’t think we need to go try to run against major open-company contenders at this point. It’s a possibility we will down the road. I’d like to keep him against statebreds.”

Monte Man is undefeated against Louisiana-breds. He was a $25,000 claim last fall at Belmont Park and upon returning to his home state of Louisiana has been unbeatable. Among his wins are four statebred stakes in his last four starts. He is a son of Custom for Carlos and a half-brother to four-time stakes winner Grand Facile, who started her career at Louisiana Downs.