Switch to dirt no problem for String King in Louisiana Cup Classic

String King was arguably the most impressive winner on a card of nine stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, when he dueled and powered home to defend his title in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Classic. The race he won a year ago on turf was moved to the main track but the surface switch was a non-issue for the horse, who picked up the eighth stakes win of his career. He rolled by 2 1/4 lengths over Hopeful Notion, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Well’s Gold.

The Classic was one of eight divisional stakes for the Louisiana-breds. The program also included the $100,000 Prelude, a Super Derby prep won by 14-1 shot Alamo Heights. Together, the nine stakes were worth $700,000.

String King ($3.20) tussled with Broadway King through fractions of 23.73 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.44 for the half-mile, before shaking that rival and going on to cover 1 1/16 mile s for 3-year-olds and up on a track rated fast in 1:44.89. Pat Johnson was aboard the horse for his breeder, owner, and trainer, Charlie C. Smith.

String King is a 6-year-old by Crowned King. He earned $45,000 on Saturday, to push his career bankroll to $670,652. He has now won 13 of 30 starts, with 10 of those wins on turf and the other three on dirt, a surface over which he finished second in the $200,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds in December.

Trainer Patrick Mouton won his second straight stakes on the card when Palmy Bay rolled past dueling leaders in the stretch in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint. One race earlier, Mouton sent out Louisiana Flyboy, who has spent part of the year racing in New York, to an authoritative win in the $150,000 A.L. "Red" Erwin.

Palmy Bay ($12), ridden by Don Simington, won the six-furlong race by 2 3/4 lengths.

Louisiana Flyboy ($3.60) took the off-the-turf Erwin going a mile and 70 yards by 2 1/2 lengths under Louisiana Downs’s leading rider, Richard Eramia.

Four Leaf Chief ($7.60), a son of Lookin At Lucky, rallied from off the pace to win the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile by two lengths over Union Builder..

Eramia won his second of three stakes on the card when Our Quista dominated the $150,000 Elge Rasberry by 11 3/4 lengths. Grade 2 winner Designer Legs finished fourth in the race that was moved to the main track and run over one-mile and 70 yards.

Our Quista ($4.80) controlled the tempo of the Elge Raspberry, a sales stakes restricted to 3-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana.

Afternoon Tango ($12.40) rallied up the rail to catch Snappy Girl for 1 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Joy of the Saints ($7.20) won her second consecutive stakes race when she led throughout for a 5 ¾-length win over Theyplayingoursong in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies..

I Dazzle ($8.20) won a rare start on dirt in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff, when she proved about a neck best over Tensas Harbor.