Brittlyn Stable scores Louisiana Legends stakes double

Brittlyn Stable celebrated a stakes double on the Louisiana Legends program Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, taking the $75,000 Distaff with Mr. Al’s Gal and the $75,000 Soiree with Testing One Two.

“It’s a blessing to have horses like this,” said Evelyn Benoit, a co-owner of Brittlyn with her husband, Maurice.

Louisiana Legends Night featured seven divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds. The program was worth $600,000, making the card the richest of the Evangeline meet. Social Misfit upset Mobile Bay in the featured event, the $100,000 Classic.

Mr. Al’s Gal was the second choice in the Distaff. She set the pace throughout in the1 1/16-mile race, taking the field through an opening half-mile in 48.88 seconds on a track rated good before going on to cover the distance in 1:45.40.

“I was a little nervous with the fractions she was setting,” winning trainer Justin Jeansonne said. “She finished up strong for us.”

Hyper Piper was second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Pacific Pink, the favorite, was another half-length back in third in the Distaff.

Mr. Al’s Gal won the sixth stakes race of her career. She has won nine of 15 starts overall, for earnings of $440,980. Mr. Al’s Gal is a daughter of Salute the Sarge.

“She’s the pet of the barn,” Benoit said.

“The first time I ever saw her run, I wanted to breed her to Star [Guitar] and that’s my plan for the future.”

Brittlyn raced Star Guitar, the all-time leading Louisiana-bred with earnings of $1.7 million.

Testing One Two withstood a claim of foul to get the win in the Soiree, a mile race for 3-year-old fillies. She stalked the pace, battled into the stretch with Special Blessing, and proved two lengths best under Diego Saenz.

Following the race, it was announced Roberto Morales, who rode Special Blessing, had claimed foul against the winner concerning the stretch run. It was disallowed and the result stood, with the winner returning $3 as the 1-2 favorite. Testing One Two covered the distance on a track rated good in 1:39.36.

Testing One Two is a daughter of Star Guitar who was bred by Brittlyn. She is trained by Victor Arceneaux. Testing One Two has now won five of seven starts, with four of those victories coming in stakes. She has earned $244,135.

Monte Man wins fifth straight race

Monte Man, who previously was based in New York, remained unbeaten in Louisiana when he won his fifth straight race in the state in the $75,000 Sprint. He moved to Louisiana after being claimed for $25,000 last October at Belmont Park.

Monte Man ($5.80) was winning his third consecutive stakes in the Sprint. He closed for a 1 3/4-length victory over Sir Genghis. The winner covered 5 1/2 furlongs on a track upgraded to fast in 1:03.86. Gerard Melancon was aboard for Ivery Sisters Racing and trainer Ron Faucheux.

Monte Man is a son of Custom for Carlos who has now won 8 of 26 starts and earned $307,055.

* Trust Factor ($5) won the Louisiana Legends Turf for the second year in a row when he led throughout for a length victory over In the Navy. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 3-5 favorite Extra Credit.

The Turf, which last year was run at Louisiana Downs, was scratched down to a field of four. It was run over yielding ground and Trust Factor covered the 1 1/16 miles in a hand-timed 1:45.45. Colby Hernandez was aboard for trainer Mike Maker.

Trust Factor is a son of Paddy O’Prado who races for Scrivener Stables. He has now won 8 of 18 starts and has won $335,958.

* Ours to Run ($7) closed for a 4 1/4-length win over Efforting in the $75,000 Mademoiselle for fillies and mares. The winner covered 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in a hand-timed 1:03.41. Roberto Morales was aboard for trainer Larry Jones.

Ours to Run is a daughter of Half Ours who races for Colonel Thoroughbreds and Horseplayers Racing Club. She has now won 7 of 15 starts and earned $187,918. Ours to Run was winning her second career stakes in the Mademoiselle.

* Double Star ($13.80) got the card off to a rousing start with an 8 1/4-length win in the $75,000 Cheval for 3-year-olds. He set fractions of 22.99 for the opening quarter, 46.63 for the half-mile and 1:11.84 for six furlongs before widening his advantage in the stretch and covering the mile on a good track in 1:39.09.

“He was incredible,” winning rider Jose Guerrero said.

Bob Schultz trains Double Star for Four Star Racing. The colt by Star Guitar was winning his second straight stakes behind the Equine Sales Derby on May 5 at Evangeline.

* Evangeline on Saturday offered a $50,000 guaranteed minimum pool on a pick four that ran on races 4-7. The fifty-cent wager returned $48.25. The final pool was $63,590.