Bourque, Bourgeois on verge of titles

With this meet set to conclude Monday evening, Curt Bourque has the riding title all but wrapped up as he began the final week with an 87-72 advantage over fellow south Louisiana native Gerard Melancon.

On the conditioner's side, perennial champ Keith Bourgeois is on his way to yet another title as he has sent out 66 winners. Sam Breaux also has enjoyed a solid meeting with 53 victories.

* The two closing weekend stakes, the Matron Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and the Lafayette for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, each offers a purse of $100,000. The Matron closed last week with 13 nominations, including Baghdaria, Delicate Dynamite, and Stormy Amber from the Tom Amoss barn. Trainer Steve Asmussen has nominated veteran stakes performer Plaid, and the Ralph Irwin-trained Tortuga Flats also remains a possibility for the Matron.

Asmussen trains five of the 23 2-year-olds nominated for Monday's Lafayette Stakes, the traditional closing night feature here.