There will be carryover of $349,763 heading into Louisiana Cup Day. First post is 2:45 pm (Central) for the seven-race card which features six stakes for accredited Louisiana-breds with purses of $50,000 each.

The Pick 5, which is offered daily for a minimum wager of .50 cents, covers the following races:

Race 3 $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff

Race 4 $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile

Race 5 $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint

Race 6 $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic

Race 7 $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

“We approached the racing commission last week when the Pick 5 carryover began to grow,” said David Heitzmann, Louisiana Downs Director of Racing. “Louisiana Cup Day is an exceptional showcase for Louisiana Thoroughbreds and offers black-type purses for the breeders as well as excellent wagering opportunities for our horseplayers. We look forward to a great afternoon!”

Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will conduct a free handicapping seminar at 1:00 pm in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. They will offer analysis and their selections for each of the races and Pick 5 on the Louisiana Cup Day card.

In addition, contributing handicappers Rachel McLaughlin of Indiana Grand, NHC Hall of Fame champion Trey Stiles and Nick Tammaro, an eight-time NHC qualifier and morning-line oddsmaker, will share their Pick 5 tickets on Twitter.

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The stakes action, which gets underway in the second race of the card, features a mix of multiple-stakes winning Louisiana champions and as well as a showcase for the rising stars of the Pelican state. Here is a preview of the contentious Louisiana Cup stakes.

Stakes action gets underway in the second race, the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies. Eight accredited 2-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies will compete at six furlongs.

Brittlyn Stable, Inc's homebred Charged Temp makes her first start in Louisiana after breaking her maiden on July 10 at Monmouth Park and followed that with a sixth-place finish in the $75,000 Colleen B on the turf. Jose Camejo trains the daughter of Star Guitar, three-time Louisiana Stallion of the Year. She will break from the far outside post under 2020 leading Louisiana Downs jockey rider Joel Dominguez.

Also making her Louisiana debut will be Streak of Silver who won the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity on July 10 at Lone Star Park. Owned by Carl Moore Management, LLC, the daughter of Graydar was bred in Louisiana by Larry Romero & Cradle Song Farm. Trainer Karen Jacks retains the riding services of Lindey Wade, who currently tops the jockey standings at Canterbury Park, to pilot the gray filly.

“She's built like a 4-year-old gelding and has matured a lot,” said Jacks. “We think highly of this filly, who is classy and smart.”

Current Louisiana leading freshman sires will be well-represented in this feature with Gerald Bruno Jr.'s Free Like a Girl representing the state's top ranked first-crop stallion El Deal. Trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, she will make her fifth start off a solid maiden-breaking score last month at Evangeline Downs.

Iron Fist, who ranks just below El Deal with four winners this year, has sired two entrants in the field: Iron Banner, trained by Brett Brinkman for owner Menard Thoroughbreds LLC and Buckley Bunny, bred and owned by Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC. Trainer Steve Flint was impressed with her victory on June 5 at Evangeline Downs.

“She's tough like (tennis superstar) Serena Williams,” said Flint of Buckley Bunny. “She showed dominance in her training, so much so, that I ran her against the boys in her first out. She hit the gate, but still won on a muddy track!”

Diego Saenz has the return call aboard Buckley Bunny at odds of 6-1.

The first turf stakes of the card, the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff, drew seven fillies and mares who will travel a mile and one-sixteenth over the Franks Turf Course.

Net a Bear, a 5-year-old filly by Awesome Bet out of the Eddington mare Edacious Reality, owned by Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro, is the 3-2 morning line favorite. She is also a multiple-stakes winner for breeders Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll with victories in the 2019 Elge Rasberry at Louisiana Downs and Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds and most recently the $60,000 Opelousas Stakes at Evangeline Downs on July 2.

Trainer Allen Landry will give a leg up to Tim Thornton aboard the six-time winner who has earned $322,070 in 25 starts.

“I always remind people not to forget about Net a Bear,” stated Landry. “She is a quality mare who always puts on a good performance.”

Trainer Edward Johnston, who won the last two editions of the Distaff with Is Too reported that the daughter of Midshipman, who won seven races for Baronne Farms LLC, is retired and in foal. However, he looks forward to a good effort from Offspring for breeder/ owner Oak Tree Stable. The 5-year-old mare by Into Mischief won the Red Camelia at Fair Grounds on March 6 as well as the Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff, which was run off the turf on June 5. Diego Saenz will guide the 2-1 second choice. Offspring and Net a Bear have faced each other four times this year and are tied with two wins each.

“It's tough when some of these races come off the turf as she is better on the grass,” said Johnston. “She's a very smart mare and Diego and I have had quite a bit of success together.”

Recent Louisiana Downs winners Fort Polk and My Little Jen are also among the contenders in the Louisiana Cup Distaff, which will run as the third race on the card.

The fourth race of the afternoon is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile for Louisiana-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings. A field of nine will compete at six furlongs on the main track.

Morning line favoritism goes to Norman Stables LLC True Deal, a colt by True Deal out of the Big Brown mare Hilarious Brown. He ran second in his Evangeline Downs debut on June 5 and won by three lengths in his second start one month later. Trainer Lonnie Briley teams with rider Joe Stokes for the colt's first stakes appearance.

Whispering Hill Farms homebred Feisty Fist broke his maiden at first asking over a sloppy track on May 20 at Evangeline Downs. The gelded son of Iron First prepped for this with a bullet five furlong drill ten days ago and trainer Steve Flint is high on his juvenile.

“Winning on a sloppy track is one thing; that was a monsoon,” stated Flint. “He ran a very good race and with his pedigree, we know he can go further. His work (on August 6) was phenomenal. We look for a very good effort from him.”

The field also includes Autumns Strong Man, a colt by Strong Mandate, owned and bred by Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables, Inc. He closed for a victory here on July 13 in a $22,000 maiden special weight for trainer Gary Husak. Jockey Emanuel Nieves has the call and will break from post position four. Tambourine Star will make his second career start for Brittlyn Stable, Inc. after running a game second on June 20 at Monmouth Park. The son of Star Guitar is trained by Jose Camejo and will be ridden by Joel Dominguez.

Post time for the Louisiana Cup Juvenile will be 4:03 pm (Central).

The $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint promises to be a very exciting race on several levels. The six furlong main track feature attracted 11 notable Louisiana-bred sprinters, including the ageless and very popular Monte Man.

Still going strong as an 8-year-old, the son of Custom For Carlos, bred by Val Murrell, is a multiple-stakes winner was claimed for just $5,000 by Ivery Sisters Racing. He has returned for the past three runnings of the Sprint, following his victory in the 2018 running of the race. He ran third last year and returns to Louisiana Downs with a record of 17 wins from 48 starts and $728,723 in earnings. Trainer Ron Faucheaux marvels at the staying power of the veteran.

“He's still very consistent and even though his numbers may have regressed, he still has so much fight in him,” said Faucheaux. “He ran a huge race at Fair Grounds on Champions Day and his recent races haven't taken a lot out of him.”

Jockey Gerard Melancon, who won his 5,000th career win on June 10 at Evangeline Downs, will guide the bay gelding at odds of 7-2.

Louisiana native Faucheux, who has been training since 2009, has three additional entrants in the Sprint. Bertie's Galaxy was the 2020 Louisiana Cup Spring runner-up for owner Allen Cassedy. The 5-year son of Greeley's Galaxy won the $70,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint on June 5 at Evangeline Downs and an allowance prep three weeks later. Diego Saenz will ride.

“He won the Louisiana Legends very impressively and drew off to another nice win after that,” added Faucheaux. “I expect another good effort on Saturday.”

His other two entrants are Winalot Racing LLC's Half Again, a full brother to Ours to Run, who will make his stakes debut under Juan Vargas and Afleet Ascent, owned by Lane Cortez.

Owner/trainer Allen Landry has a very capable sprinter in Chu Chu's Legacy, a son of Bind, who won the 2020 Louisiana Cup Juvenile and was an impressive winner in the $70,000 Cheval over a sloppy track on June 5 at Evangeline Downs. Jockey Joe Stokes continues a very successful association with Landry and will break from post six.

Landry's wife Sandra named the colt after Chu Perez who worked for the couple as a groom and passed away last year. The modest $4,000 Equine Sales Mixed Sale purchase enters the Sprint with earning of $176,350 in nine starts.

The $50,000 Louisiana Turf Cup Classic attracted eleven runners going a mile and one-sixteenth over the Franks Turf Course. Several proven turf stakes winners are entered with a firm turf course expected for Saturday afternoon.

Carlea's Dream, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line choice. Owner by Carl Moore Management, the 4-year-old son of Lea out of the Corinthian mare Beat The Street was bred by Time Will Tell LLC and has won two turf races this year in Texas. Trainer Karen Jacks looks forward to his debut at Louisiana Downs.

“He's just like his name, a dream to train,” she said. “He loves the turf, like all horses sired by Lea. His only two bad efforts were races taken off the turf. Lindey Wade had two days off from Canterbury Park, so we are lucky he will come in to ride for us.”

Other contenders include defending champion Budro Talking who closed gamely under Joel Dominguez. Owned by Jack Randall the 6-year-old son of Tale of Ekati, gave his trainer, former jockey Keith Austin his first stakes win as a conditioner. Gerald Perron's homebred Grand Luwegee, who won the 2020 Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds. Maga Man makes his Louisiana Downs debut for owner/breeder Whispering Oaks Farm LLC and conditioner Steve Flint. Trainer Ron Faucheax will saddle Allen Cassedy's Mangelsen who has won three of his last four turf starts and will take on stakes company under rider Carlos Lozada.

The $50,000 Louisiana Filly and Mare Sprint will close out Louisiana Cup Day with a field of 11 accomplished fillies.

It will be a very emotional victory for defending for the defending champion, Snowball due to the tragic and untimely passing of owner Matt Jeffrey of Tin Roof Farms LLC. He was in Canada visiting his parents earlier this month when he was stricken with a heart attack and passed away at just the age of 45. Snowball was a cherished member of the family with Jeffrey proudly explaining that his 8-year-old daughter Payton came up with her name as they spotted her at the 2017 Equine Sale of Louisiana Open Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Apriority has become an accomplished sprinter for trainer Sam Breaux, who has saddled the striking gray mare in 30 career starts. She added a sixth victory on May 14, winning the Evangeline Downs Distaff. Her career bankroll stands at $311,780. Regular rider Diego Saenz will ride the 3-1 favorite from post ten.

“This will be a very emotional race for his family,” said Breaux. “Matt loved this horse. I wasn't sure of running her due to the passing of Matt, but his wife, Pharaby, gave her blessing. ”

Our Lost Love will return for trainer Joey Foster. Bred and Tri-Star Racing LLC. The 4-year-old daughter of Half Ours is just shy of the $300,000 earnings mark with six wins from 16 starts. Named 2020 Louisiana Thoroughbred 3-Year-old Filly of the Year, she will break just inside of Snowball with Emanuel Nieves in the saddle.

“She's happy and training well,” said Foster. “This is such a special filly to us; she never misses a check and shows up every time we lead her over.”

Brittlyn Stable LLC's Crescentcitypretty brings a two-race win streak into the Filly and Mare Sprint. Joel Dominguez has the call aboard the 5-year-old Bernardini mare, who is trained by Jose Camejo. Whispering Hill Farm LLC's QuikFast Nhurry defeated Snowball on Louisiana Premier Day at Delta Downs and is a strong contender for trainer Steve Flint and rider Gerard Melancon.

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Louisiana Cup Day continues to be an excellent afternoon of racing for breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys with an esteemed list of past winners receiving recognition from the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) when they announce their annual champions. Ivery Sisters's Racing's Monte Man, Tri-Star Racing's Our Lost Love, Rodney Verret's Laughingsaintssong, Barrone Farms LLC's Is Too and Tin Roof Farms LLC's Snowball are just a few of the Louisiana Cup Day stakes winners who have been honored by the LTBA.

“Louisiana Cup Day is a great day for the breeders in our state and fans at Louisiana Downs to see some of the top Thoroughbreds in Louisiana,” said David Heitzmann, Director of Racing. “The day would not be possible without the support of Ed Fenasci, Executive Director of the HBPA and Roger Heitzmann, Executive Director of the LTBA. We look forward to presenting an excellent card on August 21.”

The six Louisiana Cup Day Stakes are as follows:

• $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred Six furlongs
• $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred Six furlongs
• $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs
• $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs
• $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
• $50,000 Louisiana Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)

Nominations for Louisiana Cup Day will close on Saturday, August 7. Contact David Heitzmann at dheitzmann@caesars.com or by calling (318) 741-2511.

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The Red River Farm stallion Bind (by Pulpit) is now deceased, but he swept the juvenile stakes with Mirabeau and Chu Chu's Legacy; Is Too (Midshipman) won the Louisiana Cup Distaff; and Budro Talking (Tale of Ekati) won the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic. Farm stallion Calibrachoa is the sire of Saltee Stark, winner of the Louisiana Cup Sprint.

Adcock, contacted while working with horses at the farm, said that the weekend successes were “kind of surreal. You don't just get up in the morning and think, 'I'm going to be involved with four or five of the winners today.' That's not how this game works.”

Due to work on the farm and COVID-19 restrictions, Adcock's son Brandon represented the farm at Louisiana Downs for the Cup races.

“Realistically,” the younger Adcock said, “From nine horses that Red River bred or co-bred entered in the six races, it looked like we had a real good chance to win one. The Bind filly Mirabeau looked like our best chance of winning, then Budro Talking because he'd had some tough luck. Mirabeau is pretty nice. She looks like the best 2-year-old in Louisiana right now.”

In contrast to the juvenile filly Mirabeau (by Bind), who can do no wrong, the 5-year-old gelding Budro Talking (Tale of Ekati) could find trouble in a walkover. Jay Adcock said, “Budro Talking has had bad luck, and [trainer Karl] Broberg got frustrated and entered him for $17,500, and this kid [trainer Keith Austen] claimed him. [Broberg] didn't think anyone would claim the old horse, but this kid raced him twice and has now won both,” including the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic.

A winner of eight races from 24 starts and $221,184, Budro Talking had not won a stakes since he was a 2-year-old but has become a popular horse on the Louisiana racing circuit. It was not always so.

“I gave Budro away” at the yearling sale, co-breeder Hume Wornall said. “That was the only way to get the colt a new home. At the Fasig-Tipton October sale, Michael Netherland had bought another Louisiana-bred colt from me, and then this colt [Budro Talking] couldn't get a bid. Netherland took him, sold him as a 2-year-old for $20,000 at the Texas sale of 2-year-olds in training, and he's been in half the barns in Louisiana since then. Watching Budro race, you gotta love him. The horse likes firm grass and has one run; he slings wide and hauls down the stretch.

“The boy that has Budro Talking now is a young trainer and he's the fellow's first stakes winner; so he's probably got a life home there, and he's only a 5-year-old,” Wornall continued.

One of the benefits of the Louisiana-bred program is that even if a breeder has to give away a yearling, he might make some money if the horse is a good racer. Brandon Adcock said that “even a small breeder who has a limited financial window can breed a nice horse, and even if it sells for a loss at the sales, then there's a chance make a profit if the horse succeeds at the racetrack. There's a financial incentive to breed a nice horse, even if it's not a profitable sales horse.

“Three of our four horses that won Louisiana Cup races brought real modest sales prices,” the younger Adcock continued. “Budro didn't make a sales horse; the two 2-year-olds, [Mirabeau, Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies; Chu Chu's Legacy, Lousiana Cup Juvenile], were by our stallion Bind, and neither of those was a big price at the yearling sales.”

Mirabeau was a $5,000 yearling who has now won four of five starts and earned $105,350; Chu Chu's Legacy brought only $4,000 as a yearling; he's now won three of four starts, $90,800. The fourth Adcock-bred winner was Is Too, who was a private sale.

Brandon Adcock noted that “Mirabeau was a nice yearling, and when I saw her this weekend at Lousiana Downs, I could see that she has grown into a beautiful filly. She looks a little bigger than Chu Chu, and both are a lot like their sire, Bind. He was the nicest stallion that I've ever been around. He was bred and raced by Claiborne Farm and had the best manners you could imagine. He was easy to handle around mares, the vet, the farrier. Nothing fazed him, and he was powerful, big stallion. He could have been a bear if he'd wanted to.

“Unfortunately, we had to put him down because of complications from a snakebite. Two or three years ago, the vets thought that a snake had bit Bind on a leg, and we sent him to the clinic. They were able to improve the situation some, but we had to keep his leg bandaged. He was such a generous individual that he let us do whatever we needed to do to help him, but eventually, he developed laminitis, and the only solution was euthanasia.”

Even without the fine young sire, Red River Farm has plenty to continue with in the dams of the four Louisiana Cup winners. Smittystown (Speightstown), dam of Mirabeau, has a Mo Tom foal of 2020 and was bred back to Maximus Mischief. Bond's Babe (Johannesburg), dam of Chu Chu's Legacy, has a Mo Tom filly and was bred back to Tapiture. American Placed (Quiet American), the dam of Budro Talking, has a Good Samaritan and was bred back to Takeover Target. Tensas Salt (Salt Lake), the dam of Is Too, has a Broken Vow and was not bred in 2020 after seven foals in a row.

Jay Adcock said, “I'm going to breed those mares that went out of state this year to a stallion here in Louisiana, and those will go to one of my stallions,” such as Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday) or Grade 1 winner El Deal (Munnings). The breed-back rule for Louisiana has recently been changed so that breeders will be able to take mares to out-of-state stallions every year, rather than the previous every-other year option.

Breeders such as Adcock, who stand stallions as well as raise state-bred racing prospects, are uncertain what the future holds for that part of their breeding operations. But for today, the Adcock family and their Red River Farm will bask in the bright sunshine of the winner's circle in front of the home folks.

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Stakes action gets underway in the second race, the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies. A very competitive field of 11 accredited 2-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies entered the gate for the six furlong contest with a commanding victory by Mirabeau.

Owned by Larry Romero and Ron Faucheux, the daughter of Bind out of the Speightstown mare, Smittystown, was bred by J. Adcock and Nathan Granger and is trained by Faucheux. She was a commanding ten-length winner in the filly's division of the $60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity on August 29 at Evangeline Downs and did not disappoint today.

“She gets better every time,” said jockey Diego Saenz, who patiently sat off the early pace before joining Ru Lala at the top of the stretch.

Mirabeau crossed the wire in 1:12.66, winning by a margin of six lengths. She has now won four of her five career efforts, banking $105,350.

“We couldn't ask for anything more from a 2-year-old filly”, stated Faucheux. “I really liked her draw; there wasn't much speed on the outside. I figured she might hook up with Asmussen's filly, so our goal was to sit off the pace and make a run around the turn. It worked perfect for us! She keeps maturing. We aimed at this race after the “Shine” and will go right into Champions Day at Fair Grounds. Our goal is to keep her healthy, sound and fit and hopefully she will continue on like this.”

Ru Lala, trained by Steve Asmussen who won his 9,000th career race last night at Remington Park, held for second. Longshot Tecate Time closed for third and Inawic completed the superfecta.

It was another solid field of Louisiana-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile going six furlongs on the main track.

The victory went to Allen Landry's Chu Chu's Legacy, who broke in front under jockey Tim Thornton and never relinquished the lead, drawing clear in a final time of 1:13.41.

The son of Bind, who won the $60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity division for colts and geldings was bred by J. Adcock and Hume Warnell.

“He's a real professional horse,” said Thorton. “Mr. Allen has done a great job with him. He looks like he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Owner/trainer Landry was pleased with the tenacity of his colt.

“He does what he has to do,” said Landry who purchased the colt for a modest $4,000 at the Equine Sales Mixed Sale. “He was pressured again today, but Tim said he stayed relaxed and just did his thing.”

Landry's wife Sandra named the colt after Chu Chu Perez who worked for the couple as a groom and recently passed away.

Running second was 35-1 entrant Janets Jay Jay under rider Luis Batista, followed by Creole Charlie and G'wildcat.

Sent off as the favorite, Chu Chu's Legacy paid $5.20 for the win, which was his third in four starts. With today's winner's share of $30,000, his earnings stand at $90,800.

There was little pressure for defending champion Is Too who schooled a very nice field of fillies and mares in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff.

The 5-year-old daughter of Midshipman is owned by Barrone Farms LLC, and won last year under Colby Hernandez. This year, jockey Diego Saenz had the call and set very comfortable early fractions of :25.06; 50:47 before drawing clear in 1:43.33 over a firm Franks Turf Course.

“She was very relaxed,” said Saenz. “They let me set the fractions and I was able to walk the dog, like they say! I was a little nervous as I have ridden several of these mares, but she got it done.”

Trainer Edward Johnston was reached on the phone following the victory.

“Diego did a tremendous job setting the fractions,” he said. “I knew he would have plenty left when he was able to slow it down on the lead. They weren't going to catch her today.”

Is Too ($7.20) won her seventh race from 22 starts and has now won $249,730..

Stakes winner Mariah's Galaxy was running late under rider Kevin Smith to complete the exacta with Room To Finish and Alliceous completing the top four spots.

The $50,000 Louisiana Filly and Mare Sprint attracted a highly competitive group of distaffers competing at the distance of six furlongs.

Tin Roof Farms LLC's Snowball, a 4-year-old daughter of Apriority, won her last two races at Evangeline Downs, including the $60,000 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle Stakes on July 4. Trained by Samuel Breaux, the gray filly broke from post position three with Diego Saenz in the saddle. Bred by 4M Ranch, Snowball made one previous start at Louisiana Downs in 2019, running fourth in the Elge Rasberry, which was run at a mile on the turf.

Sprinting has become her forte, according to her conditioner as he watched her cross the wire of the six furlong contest in 1:12.02.

“She had lots of traffic in the front,” said Breaux. “But Diego got her through it and she did the rest. We changed her style from a route horse to a sprinter and she has taken advantage of it.”

Owner Matt Jeffrey was on hand to see his filly pick up her third race in a row.

“It's been a blast,” said Jeffrey. ”To be here with our family and friends is something we look forward to. Sam does an amazing job.”

Jeffrey's 7-year-old daughter Payton named the filly after admiring her at the sale, she told her parents that the potential racehorse reminded her of a snowball!

Trainer Ron Faucheux saddled runner-up Play Unified, a 7-year-old mare by Exchange Rate, who rallied under Erica Murray. Our Lost Love, Louisiana 2-year-old champion filly, ran third followed by Miss Pat's Girl.

The $50,000 Louisiana Turf Cup Classic attracted 12 runners going a mile and one-sixteenth over the Franks Turf Course.

Budro Talking had an excellent turf record for owner Jack Randall and has won five of his eight Louisiana Downs starts, including last year's Sunday Silence. Joel Dominguez piloted the 5-year-old son of Tale of Ekati, advancing gamely down the stretch over longshot Nippy Red and previous champion In The Navy.

In one of the most animated winner's circle celebrations in Louisiana Cup history, trainer Keith Austin saluted owner Jack Randall and was thrilled to notch his first stakes win as a conditioner.

“I rode for 23 years and never won a stakes,” said Austin. “I said that if I ever got the opportunity to train horses, and rode the horses I trained, I would have won a stakes. Joel Dominguez was Superman today and Jack Randall is the reason I am here today. He gave me the opportunity to train when nobody else would. He believed in me. I had to make this horse happy and make him feel at home.”

“He's just a champ; I was just the passenger,” said rider Dominguez. “I saved ground on the first turn and gave him a clean trip. I knew he was going to come running.”

Sydster followed Nippy Red and In the Navy to the wire. Budro Talking ($6.40) won in a final time of 1:41.9, earning his eighth win in 24 starts.

Two previous champions of the $50,000 Louisiana Sprint were denied in the finale when Saltee Stark finished with a rush under Louisiana Downs leading rider Joel Dominguez.

The 5-year-old son of Calibrachoa was making his 17th career start for trainer Joe O. Duhon, who felt his runner would be competitive based on his August 14 win here.

“I decided to run him in this because he had a good recent race,” explained Duhon. “Fellow trainer Shane Wilson and I talked about it and he felt my horse could compete. I want give thanks to my owner, John S. Turner, who passed away a couple of weeks ago.”

This was the second stakes victory on the card for Dominguez, who will be honored with his first leading rider title on Wednesday.

“Joe and I talked and said if he ran like he did last time, he would win,” said Dominguez.

Defending champion Laughingsaintssong had the lead in the first half-mile, but faded to fifth/ Trainer Ron Faucheux looked for a good effort from his two entrants, Bertie's Galaxy, who was game throughout the race under Erica Murray, finishing second and 2018 champion Monte Man, who rallied for third.

Saltee Stark ($12.00) was bred by Moon Lake Equine Center LLC and was clocked in 1:11.19. He will be pointed to Fair Grounds according to Duhon.

Just three more days remain in the 2020 Harrah's Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet. Live racing continues Monday, September 21. Tuesday, September 22 and will conclude on Wednesday, September 23 with the presentation of the End of the Meet awards to the leading owner, trainer and jockey.

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“We thank our local horsemen for their support since the live racing season began on June 6,” said David Heitzmann, director of racing at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. “This has been a very challenging year due to COVID-19, so we are pleased to reward these hard working men and women with a purse increase of $1,500 across the board.”

Track officials also announced that the Louisiana Cup Day program, which had been in limbo due to the ongoing pandemic. A half-dozen stakes, each offering purse money of $40,000, will take place Saturday, Sept. 19. Roger Heitzmann, Executive Director of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA); Ed Fenasci, Executive Director of the HBPA and David Heitzmann, director of Racing at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, have worked diligently to put the annual stakes day back on the calendar.  On June 16, the LTBA Board of Directors voted to earmark $100,000 for Louisiana Cup Day.

“We are grateful to LTBA for allocating the funds so we can run Louisiana Cup Day once again this year,” added Heitzmann. “This is a very important day for our breeders, horsemen, and of course, the fans at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.”

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