Woods N Water continues grass success, takes Louisiana Cup Turf Classic

Woods N Water and trainer Lee Thomas continued their ascent on the Louisiana racing circuit Saturday by locking up the main event on the $450,000 Louisiana Cup card at Louisiana Downs.

Woods N Water won the second stakes race of his career in the $75,000 Turf Classic. The race was one of six Louisiana-bred stakes on the program. Woods N Water darted to a half-length win over Oh My Aching Arch, while it was anther three-quarters of a length back in third to Silver Galaxy.

The wins for Woods N Water ($5.60) have come since Thomas moved him to turf for the first time in May. The horse, who is 4, is now 3 for 4 on the grass, with his other stakes win coming in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf in June at Evangeline Downs.

Thomas, 38, is coming off his best year at the track. He won 73 races and compiled $1.4 million in stable earnings in 2022 while largely focusing on racing in Louisiana.

Woods N Water tracked the pace in fourth Saturday, as Half Again took the field through an opening quarter in 23.74 seconds and a half-mile in 48.17. Carlea’s Dream took the reins through six furlongs in 1:12.10 before Woods N Water moved past the leaders in the stretch and went on to cover 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.12.

“Here lately, he’s really come around,” winning jockey Tommy Pompell said in a post-race interview conducted by Louisiana Downs. “He always sits right off the pace and just goes – like he did today.”

Woods N Water is a son of Palace who races for Dewberry Farm and co-breeder Richard Painter.

In the counterpart for fillies and mares, the $75,000 Distaff, winner Star Moment ($11.20) covered 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in a swift 1:41.22. She sat off the pace set by Birdie Call, who took the field through six furlongs in 1:10.76. Star Moment moved to the fore in the stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Birdie Call. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Wholelottamo.

Following the race, the rider of Wholelottamo claimed foul against the winner for interference early in the final turn, but the stewards made no change to the order of finish. Star Moment is a daughter of Star Guitar who races for Intrepid Thoroughbreds. She is trained by Bret Calhoun.

“She’s just all class,” winning rider Timothy Thornton told Louisiana Downs. “I knew she would be there when in called on her.”

A sweep for Gelner

For the second time this year, trainer Jayde Gelner swept a pair of 2-year-old stakes on a card. He did so earlier this summer at Lone Star Park and came back and pulled the same feat Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

Strong Promise – who won a division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity to help Gelner notch his double at Lone Star - came back and won the $75,000 Juvenile at Louisiana Downs. He is now 3 for 3.

Strong Promise ($2.60) stalked the pace set by Western Afleet, who took the field through a half-mile in 46.51 seconds. Strong Promise overtook that one and went on to cover 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:05.52. The son of Broken Vow won by 2 1/2 lengths over Good and Stout, while it was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third to El Dinero. Strong Promise races for Norman Stables.

Tap Galore ($13) won her maiden in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies, by 2 1/2 lengths over stablemate Diamond Deal. Gelner trains the fillies for Thompson Racing. Joel Dominguez was aboard the winner, who covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.18. Tap Galore is a daughter of Tapiture and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Chu’s Chu’s Legacy.

Upsets in sprints

Norah G ($44.80) led throughout for a three-quarter-length win over Final Quest in the $75,000 Filly and Mare Sprint. Free Like a Girl, the 1-2 favorite who was cutting back to one turn, finished eighth. Norah G set fractions of 22.38 for the opening quarter and 45.53 before covering six furlongs in 1:11.74. Emanuel Nieves was aboard for breeder and owner Tom Galvin and trainer Patricia West. Norah G is by Fast Anna.

X Clown ($52.40) was a three-quarter-length winner over Pickens in the $75,000 Sprint. The winner set fractions of 22.55 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.72 for the half-mile and went on to cover six furlongs in 1:11.06. There was a dead heat for third between Mike J and even-money favorite Big Chopper. Devin Magnon was aboard X Clown for his wife, trainer Rylee Magnon. X Clown is a son of Jimmy Creed who races for BW and HTS Stables and Jason Grudzien.