The highly anticipated Louisiana Cup Day will take place on Saturday, August 6 at Louisiana Downs. Nominations will close for the six stakes for Louisiana-breds on Saturday, July 23 with strong interest from horsemen for the races, each valued at $67,000.
The annual stakes day is always special for breeders, owners, trainers, and jockeys as the entire card shines the spotlight on Louisiana-breds. The options are plentiful with stakes written for juveniles, sprinters, and turf runners.
Trainer Ron Faucheux plans on sending several runners to Bossier City for Cup Day.
Fame Feather and Strong Beauty are in consideration for the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Fame Feather, a 7-year-old Lion Tamer mare, sprang the upset in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle on June 4 at Evangeline Downs for Picard Thoroughbreds Racing Stable LLC. Strong Beauty, a 5-year-old daughter of Overanalyze, owned by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, ran fourth.
Bertie's Galaxy has run in two editions of the Louisiana Cup Day sprint and exits a victory in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint on June 4 at Evangeline Downs. After conferring with owner Allen Cassedy, Faucheux is planning on giving the 6-year-old son of Greeley's Galaxy a few months off.
However, Ron Faucheux is considering testing Dorgenois, who just broke her maiden on July 15 at Evangeline Downs. Jim and Natalie Montgomery, prominent in Louisiana Quarter Horse racing, bred the daughter of Gormley to the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Money Peg.
“We love coming to Louisiana Downs for the big day,” said Faucheux.
Faucheux has many memories of his Louisiana-breds winning their Cup Day races, including millionaire Sunbean, who captured the 2016 Louisiana Turf Classic. One of his most popular competitors was the brilliant Monte Man.
A son of Custom for Carlos, bred by Val Murrell, Monte Man was claimed for just $5,000 by Ivery Sisters Racing in 2017 at Belmont Park. He made his first start in Louisiana on December 17, 2017, winning an allowance at Fair Grounds, prior to reeling off seven consecutive wins, including a victory in the 2018 Louisiana Cup Sprint at Louisiana Downs. The bay gelding earned $794,233 in 50 career starts, competing at each of the four Louisiana racetracks. He concluded his remarkable run in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint on December 11, 2021.
Murrell had always assured Faucheux and Brian Ivery that once Monte Man was ready to retire, he would have his own pasture at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana. Faucheux has made several trips to visit the popular gelding.
“He's doing great,” Faucheux said. “They are taking great care of Monte Man and he still looks racy! He was such a barn favorite, and we all miss him, but we always believe in doing right by our horses.”
The draw for the six features on Louisiana Cup Day will take place on Saturday, July 30. The stakes are as follows:
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred 5½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred 5½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
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