Allnight Moonlight did his best impression of notorious closer Silky Sullivan on Saturday at Louisiana Downs when he closed from well back to win the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Classic in a photo over 34-1 shot Wise Verdict.
Allnight Moonlight, who was 5-1, returned $12 for his head win. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Blue Cheese.
The Classic was one of six restricted stakes on the $450,000 Louisiana Cup card. The races were run over a muddy, sealed track after rains hit the area. All of the turf races were moved to the main track for Saturday.
The Classic was originally scheduled for turf. The surface switch did little to deter Allnight Moonlight, who lagged some 15 lengths off the pace early as Behemah Star and Brian’s Iron Mike dueled through fractions of 23.94 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.40 for the half-mile and 1:12.22 for six furlongs.
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Allnight Moonlight launched a long, sustained run up the backstretch, came five wide into the stretch, and rolled down the center of the track to be up at the wire.
“Thank the Lord we got there,” winning rider Elio Barrera said in a post-race interview broadcast by Louisiana Downs.
Sam Breaux trains Allnight Moonlight. The son of Ransom the Moon races for Roger Smith. He is now 6 for 16 for earnings of $299,400. Allnight Moonlight was winning his fourth stakes race in the Classic.
Dixie Farmer in Distaff
Dixie Farmer ($17) held for a nose win over Tensas Candy in the $75,000 Distaff. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.12. Julio Ramirez Jr. was aboard the daughter of Mo Tom.
“She kept fighting and fighting, gave me everything she had,” Ramirez said in a post-race interview broadcast by Louisiana Downs.
Dixie Farmer races for Maria Carlos and Yovani Munoz Munoz also trains Dixie Farmer.
*** Clear as a Bele ($16.80) was always prominent for a 2 1/4-length win over Not On Herb in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:10.89. Joel Dominguez was aboard the son of Clearly Now for Pengleton Larsen Jr. and trainer Courtney Dandridge.
*** Tdz Hint of Power ($4) romped by 10 3/4 lengths in the $75,000 Juvenile, winning the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:04.37. Casey Fusilier was aboard for trainer Nason Eschete. Tony Doughtie bred and owns the son of Imperial Hint.
*** Fusilier had a second winner on the card when he guided Six String ($9.80) to a wire-to-wire win in the $75,000 Filly and Mare Sprint. She was a four-length winner over Noneya and covered six furlongs in 1:10.80. Allen Landry trains the daughter of Star Guitar for World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing.
*** Quite the Catch ($40.80) went from last to first for a neck win over Sweet Morgan Leigh in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies. The winner covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.63. Nicholas Latour owns and trains the daughter of Requite, who was ridden by Jose Rodriguez. Warrior’s Justice, who was expected to start as a strong favorite, was scratched.
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