Sunbean makes progress toward return

NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana-bred millionaire Sunbean, unraced since February 2015, has gotten up to five furlongs in his workouts and is set to make his return to the races sometime this Fair Grounds meet, trainer Ron Faucheux said Thursday.

Sunbean, a 6-year-old gelding who has won 13 of 21 starts, had his first work this winter Dec. 6, and on Wednesday he worked five furlongs in 1:02.40. Faucheux, who trains Sunbean for the Brittlyn Stable, said Sunbean is being pointed to the Star Guitar Stakes for Louisiana-breds March 26.

“I’d like to get a race in before then, but we’re not going to push it,” Faucheux said.

Faucheux said Sunbean has trained with verve since starting back to serious morning exercise.

“I don’t know if he’s ever trained this well,” Faucheux said. “Hopefully that time off will really do him good.”

◗ The Faucheux-trained, Brittlyn-owned Clearly Now is one of six horses entered for a high-end sprint allowance here Jan. 23. Also in that race is Thanksgiving Handicap winner Control Stake.

◗ The Jan. 23 card also includes a first-level, two-turn dirt allowance for 3-year-old fillies which drew seven entrants, including the promising debut winner Royal Obsession.

◗ The Sunday features are races 7 and 8. Race 7 is a second-level Louisiana-bred one-mile dirt allowance which would be headed by Jockamo’s Song, provided he runs here instead of Delta Downs on Saturday night. Race 8 is a tough-to-figure first-level turf-route allowance for fillies and mares.