Streaking Chu Chu's Legacy, Mirabeau stay hot on Louisiana Cup Day

Chu Chu’s Legacy and Mirabeau kept their win streaks alive Saturday when the 2-year-olds won separate Louisiana Cup Day stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Chu’s Chu’s Legacy has now won his last three starts, while Mirabeau has won her last four. The horses came into their respective Louisiana Cup stakes off wins in separate divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

Louisiana Cup Day featured six stakes, with each restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. The races were worth a combined $300,000, and they made for the richest card of the meet, which ends Wednesday.

Chu Chu’s Legacy ($5.20) led throughout in the $50,000 Juvenile for a 3 3/4-length win over Janets Jay Jay. Chu Chu’s Legacy set fractions of 22.90 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.25 for the half-mile before covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.41.

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Tim Thornton was aboard the winner, who started his streak in a maiden special weight Aug. 6 at Evangeline.

Allen Landry owns and trains Chu Chu’s Legacy, who is named for the late groom Elias Perez, a popular figure on the track known as Chu Chu. He died last year. Perez worked for Landry for seven years. Chu Chu’s Legacy is a son of Bind.

Mirabeau ($3.80) was a six-length winner over Rue Lala in the $50,000 Juvenile Fillies. She tracked fractions of 23.15 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.88 for the half-mile before going on to cover six furlongs in 1:12.66. Diego Saenz was aboard the winner for co-owner and trainer Ron Faucheux.

Faucheux races Mirabeau with Larry Romero. She began her streak with a maiden special weight win July 4 at Evangeline. It was her second start. She proceeded to win an allowance at the track in advance of the "Shine."

Mirabeau shares the same sire as Chu Chu’s Legacy as she is by Bind.

Saenz wins three stakes

Saenz had two additional stakes wins on the card following his score with Mirabeau. He came back to take the $50,000 Distaff with Is Too, who set a controlled pace en route to a half-length win over Mariah’s Galaxy.

Is Too ($7.20) put up fractions of 25.06 seconds for the opening quarter, 50.47 for the half-mile and 1:14.64 for six furlongs. In the stretch she held off a fast-closing Mariah’s Galaxy while covering 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.33.

Is Too is a daughter of Midshipman who is owned by Baronne Farms and trained by Edward Johnston.

Saenz returned one race later to capture the $50,000 Filly and Mare Sprint aboard Snowball, who burst to the lead in the later stages for a length win over Play Unified.

Snowball ($7.60) had just a few horses beat in the early stages of the race, as Nun of Ours set pressured fractions of 22.97 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.83 for the half-mile. The eventual winner covered six furlongs in 1:12.02.

Snowball is a daughter of Apriority who races for Tin Roof Farms and trainer Sam Breaux

First stakes win for Austin

Jockey Joel Dominguez won back-to-back stakes aboard Budro Talking in the $50,000 Turf Classic and Saltee Stark in the $50,000 Sprint.

Budro Talking ($6.40) shuttled to a 1 1/4-length win over Nippy Red in the Turf Classic, covering the 1 1/16 miles on firm ground in a quick 1:41.91.

It was an impressive performance and after the race trainer Keith Austin, a former jockey, said in a post-race interview broadcast by Louisiana Downs that he looks forward to Budro Talking facing top Louisiana-bred Shang.

Austin won his first stakes race in a training career launched July 11. Overall he’s gone 4 for 5 with his starters, according to Daily Racing Form records.

Jack Randall owns Budro Takling, who is a son of Tale of Ekati.

Saltee Stark ($12) was up for a half-length win over Bertie’s Galaxy in the Sprint. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Monte Man in third.

Saltee Stark covered six furlongs in 1:11.19. He is a son of Calibrachoa who races for John Turner and is trained by Joe Duhon.