Classy John tries two turns in La. Premier Night Prince

Classy John is an up-andcoming Louisiana-bred and Triple Crown nominee who will make his two-turn debut Saturday night in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince at Delta Downs.

But no matter what Classy John goes on to accomplish for Valene Farms and trainer Dallas Stewart, it could be argued his most meaningful win is already in the books. It came last August, when Classy John stormed to a six-length debut win in a maiden special weight at Saratoga.

“He’s named after Murray Valene’s dad, who had passed away right before the race,” Stewart said. “He’s a special horse.”

Classy John has since won back-to-back sprint stakes in Louisiana, taking the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile on the front end Dec. 8 and using the same tactics in an $85,000 division of the Louisiana Futurity on Dec. 29. Both races were at Fair Grounds.

For the Premier Night Prince, a mile race for 3-yearolds and one of six Louisianabred stakes on the card, he has worked sharply at his base of Fair Grounds.

“If he’s going to get a mile, this is a good spot to try him,” Stewart said. “He’s doing very well, and we’re excited to bring him over.”

Classy John will break from post 7 in the field of eight Saturday. Corey Lanerie has the mount on the son of Songandaprayer. Classy John has compiled a 3-for-4 career record, with his lone loss a secondplace finish in an optional $75,000 claiming allowance at Churchill Downs in November that produced a Delta stakes winner in Six Shooter.

Others set to start in the Prince include Jimi’s a Star, the runner-up to Classy John in both the Champions Day Juvenile and the Louisiana Futurity; Pickett, a stakes winner at Evangeline Downs; and Shang, who is coming off backto-back overnight wins at Fair Grounds.

The counterpart to the Prince for 3-year-old fillies, the $100,000 Starlet, drew the undefeated Midnight Fantasy. She is 3 for 3 and has won her races by a combined margin of 22 3/4 lengths. Her victories include the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie on Dec. 8 at Fair Grounds and a division of the $85,000 Louisiana Futurity at the same track Dec. 29.

Midnight Fantasy, who is a daughter of Midnight Lute, will be making her two-turn debut in the mile race Saturday. She will break from the rail under Adam Beschizza, who has the mount for owner Carl Moore and trainer Joe Sharp.

Ours to Run also is riding a win streak into Louisiana Premier Night. She goes in the $100,000 Matron, a five-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Ours to Run has romped in each of her last three starts – all stakes – and has won those races by a combined margin of 18 lengths. Her run started with the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle in May at Evangeline and continued with the $50,000 Happy Ticket on Nov. 18 at Fair Grounds and that track’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint on Dec. 8.

Roberto Morales has the mount from the rail for owner Colonel Thoroughbreds and trainer Larry Jones.

The field of 10 includes Minit to Stardom, the runner-up in the Ladies Sprint who was making her first start since a sixth-place finish in last year’s Grade 1 Test at Saratoga.

Fillies and mares who prefer two turns meet in the $125,000 Distaff, which will be run at a mile. The race is one of the most competitive stakes on the card, with Testing One Two putting a 5-for-5 record at Delta on the line in a field that includes fellow stakes winners Mr. Al’s Gal, Remember Daisy, and Special Blessing.

Remember Daisy won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies on Dec. 8 at Fair Grounds, wiring the field by eight lengths to earn a careerhigh Beyer Speed Figure of 88. She has made one start since, running fourth against open company in the $75,000 Pago Hop, which came off the turf and was run in the slop Dec. 29 at Fair Grounds. Mitchell Murrill has the mount for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling and trainer Gary Scherer.

Testing One Two has won an allowance and the $75,000 Treasure Chest in her last two starts, both at Delta. Diego Saenz has the mount from the rail for owner Brittlyn Stable and trainer Victor Arceneaux.

Monte Man will attempt to start a new win streak in the $100,000 Sprint, a five-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up. He had won seven straight races up to his last start, when he finished third by a length in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint.

Givemeaminit, who won that race, returned in his next start to win a Fair Grounds allowance sprint and on Saturday night is stretching out around two turns for the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship. As for Monte Man, he will break from post 3 in the Sprint, with Gerard Melancon to ride for owner Ivery Sisters Racing and trainer Ron Faucheux.

Monte Man won last year’s Premier Night Sprint.