Sunbean back on dirt in Gold Cup

The millionaire Sunbean will be seeking his 15th career stakes win Saturday night when he takes on fellow Louisiana-breds Mobile Bay and The Pickett Factor in the $100,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs.

The Gold Cup, for 3-year-olds and up at a mile, drew 12 but is limited to a 10-horse gate on the six-furlong track at Delta. The race is expected to produce starters for stakes on the Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds.

Sunbean is a two-time winner of the Gold Cup and is 4 for 5 at Delta.

Gold Cup (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Sunbean, by Brahms
Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-86

• He is moving back to dirt after winning on turf for the first time in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic in his last start Aug. 6 at Louisiana Downs. He was making just his second start on grass and settled just off the pace before shuttling to a one-length win over a field that included The Pickett Factor.

• Sunbean had been entered in the $75,000 Unbridled on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 10 but was scratched from the race in favor of awaiting the Gold Cup, according to Ron Faucheux, who trains the horse for his breeder, Brittlyn Stable.

• Sunbean worked a bullet five-eighths at Fair Grounds in his final prep for the Gold Cup, going in 59.20 seconds in the fastest of 21 drills at the distance Oct. 22 in New Orleans.

• Sunbean has tactical speed, and that should serve him well as he breaks from post 10 under regular rider Richard Eramia.

Mobile Bay, by Lone Star Special
Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-77

• He will be moving back to the Louisiana-bred ranks after finishing fourth in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Sept. 25 at Remington Park. The winner of that race, Chocopologie, was to run in the Fayette Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, while third-place finisher Bold Conquest has since come back to win an allowance at Remington. In addition, Governor’s Cup runner-up Smack Smack is the favorite for Monday’s Veterans Stakes at Zia Park in New Mexico.

• Mobile Bay, who used his notable closing kick to win the Grade 2 Super Derby in 2015, will be making his first start at Delta Downs.

The Pickett Factor, by Gold Tribute
Last 3 Beyers: 75-93-81

• He is moving back to the main track after testing turf for the first time in the Louisiana Turf Cup Classic. He found himself racing farther off the pace than usual and finished eighth, 4 3/4 lengths behind Sunbean.

• One start prior, The Pickett Factor won the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic over Mobile Bay, with the pair battling through the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile race July 2 at Evangeline Downs.

• The Pickett Factor has more natural speed than most of his rivals and figures to be a force from the bell in the Gold Cup. He also earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure when he captured last year’s running of this race. The Pickett Factor then accounted for the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds.