Trio of stars meet in Louisiana Cup Turf Classic

There will be a clash of Louisiana-bred titans on Saturday, when the millionaires String King and Sunbean meet The Pickett Factor at Louisiana Downs. The horses have come together for the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic.

The race is part of an all-stakes card that includes the local Super Derby prep, the $100,000 Prelude. The Louisiana Cup is comprised of six divisional stakes for horses bred in the state. Purses for the seven-race program total $450,000.

The Turf Classic, which has been won the past three years by String King, drew dirt regulars Sunbean and The Pickett Factor on a card that offers no main-track routes for older horses. Others making up the 10-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile grass race include multiple stakes winners Benwill and Four Leaf Chief.

The Pickett Factor will be making his turf debut off a stirring win over last year’s Super Derby hero, Mobile Bay, in the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic on July 2 at Evangeline Downs. There are a couple of reasons to believe that The Pickett Factor, who last year won the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds, will take to the turf Saturday.

“He’s certainly bred for it,” said trainer Ralph Irwin, noting that the horse will be facing his turf-loving half-brother Benwill.

In addition, The Pickett Factor’s sire, Gold Tribute, gets 16 percent winners from his first-time turf starters. The Pickett Factor had been scheduled to stretch his legs over the local John Franks course last Saturday, but rain squashed those plans, said Irwin.

“If he looks like he can go either way, that opens another option in his career,” Irwin said. “It’s going to be interesting. I hope we’re happy with what we see.”

Irwin said The Pickett Factor has trained well since his run-in with the Victor Arceneaux-trained Mobile Bay on Louisiana Legends Night. The Pickett Factor edged that rival by a neck and earned one of his best Beyer Speed Figures, a 93.

“I couldn’t have been any prouder of him,” said Irwin, who trains The Pickett Factor for Melissa Cantacuzene. “When you see something like that develop, have two warriors go at it the way they did ... it could have gone any way at any time. I’m certainly glad we came out on the good end. But I told Victor in the test barn, ‘Boy, what a race you ran. You ran a winning race. We ran a winning race. They both showed their class and their heart.’ It was a fun race – nerve-wracking but fun.”

Donnie Meche has the mount from post 7.

String King enters the Turf Classic off a one-length win over Four Leaf Chief in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf on July 2 at Evangeline. He has now won at least one stakes each year from ages 3 through 8. Overall, he has won 14 stakes from his 19 career victories.

John Jacinto will be aboard for breeder, owner, and trainer Charles Smith. String King will break from post 2.

Sunbean is a 13-time stakes winner who is getting a second shot on turf in part because of his pedigree, with trainer Ron Faucheux noting that he is a son of Brahms. Richard Eramia has the mount from the rail for breeder-owner Brittlyn Stable.

In other races:

◗ Rach’slastscarf will attempt to turn the tables on Actif Storm in the $50,000 Juvenile Fillies.

◗ Forest Lake tries turf in the $75,000 Distaff, and her dam was a two-time winner on grass.

◗ Street Honor shakes Southern California runner Crosscheck Carlos in the $50,000 Juvenile.

◗ C U Tiger will seek his third straight win in the $50,000 Sprint.

◗ Jackson’s G G returns to the statebred ranks off a local allowance score for the $50,000 Filly and Mare Sprint.