The Pickett Factor eyes Louisiana Champions Day Classic

The Pickett Factor has put himself in the mix for Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds after running one of the most impressive races of the meet at Delta Downs. The Pickett Factor, 3, won last month’s $100,000 Gold Cup over older horses by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

The next step for The Pickett Factor could be the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana on Dec. 12.

The Pickett Factor led from start to finish in the Gold Cup, a mile race for Louisiana-breds Nov. 14 at Delta. It was his first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Super Derby on Sept. 12 at Louisiana Downs and his fifth win in seven career starts.

“I was very happy,” said Ralph Irwin, who trains The Pickett Factor. “For a young, inexperienced horse he answered a lot of questions. First time under the lights, a deeper surface, shipping. All the little things that add up, and he handled everything very well.”

The Pickett Factor is based at the Hurricane Bluff training center in Benton, La.

“We’re kind of vanning out of there, making that our base at the moment,” said Irwin, who also has stalls at the Oaklawn meet that opens Jan. 15.

Irwin trains The Pickett Factor for Melissa Cantacuzene.