Our Anabelle begins string of Premier Night upsets

Upsets were the theme of the Louisiana Premier Night program on Saturday at Delta Downs.

The tone was set early when Our Anabelle won the opener, a maiden special weight, and returned $90.40.

The trend carried on through most of the six stakes on the card, with 11-1 shot Wonder Run closing out the night by holding off Monte Man by a neck in the $100,000 Sprint. In between, there was just one winning favorite during the stakes portion of the program, Ours to Run ($3.40) in the $100,000 Matron.

In the Sprint, Wonder Run ($24.20) sat just off the pace set by Bending Saint, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.14 seconds. The eventual winner moved to the fore in the stretch and comfortably held off Monte Man by 1 1/4 lengths while covering five furlongs on a fast track in 58.22 seconds. It was the first stakes win for Wonder Run.

“He’s coming into his own,” winning trainer Steve Flint said.

Jockey Diego Saenz was aboard in what was one of three stakes wins on the night for the rider, who overall won four races on the program at Delta.

“He rode the perfect race, let the speed go, picked it up at the head of the lane,” Flint said.

Flint said that on Saturday morning Wonder Run’s dam, the stakes winner Gal Wonder, had a colt by Iron Fist. Wonder Run is a son Run Production. He has won 9 of 32 starts and earned $313,725 for owner Whispering Oaks Farm.

Ours to Run won her fourth straight race – all stakes – in the Matron. She tracked the pace after breaking from the rail and covered the five furlongs for fillies and mares in 58.73 seconds. Roberto Morales was aboard for the one-length win over Minit to Stardom.

Ours to Run began her streak in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle in May at Evangeline Downs and from there won the $50,000 Happy Ticket on Nov. 18 at Fair Grounds and that track’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint on Dec. 8.

Ours to Run is a daughter of Half Ours who has now won 10 of 18 starts and $337,988. She races for Colonel Thoroughbreds and is trained by Larry Jones.

Hyper Piper ($20.40) handed Testing One Two her first defeat over the Delta surface in six local starts when she darted to a 1 3/4-length win over the odds-on favorite in the $100,000 Distaff. Timothy Thornton was aboard the winner, who covered the mile in 1:40.66. Hyper Piper is a daughter of Old Fashioned who races for Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez, and John Duvielh. She is trained by Sam David.

Goodprofit ($15.80) closed from last to catch 1-5 favorite Midnight Fantasy at the wire for a neck win in the $100,000 Starlet. The winner covered the mile in 1:41.25. Midnight Fantasy had won her three starts into the Starlet and was making her two-turn debut. Goodprofit is a daughter of Guilt Trip who races for her breeder, Jim McIngvale. Gerard Melancon was aboard for trainer Chris Richard.

Shang ($9.80) upset 3-5 favorite Classy John in the $100,000 Prince, catching that one on the wire for a neck victory. Shang covered the mile in 1:39.54. Classy John was making his two-turn debut following back-to-back stakes wins at Fair Grounds. Saenz was aboard Shang for trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt by Shanghai Bobby races for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

The richest stakes on the card, the $150,000 Championship, was upset by Grand Luwegee ($24.40) and Saenz.