Creole Chrome turns in 18-length romp in Louisiana Legends Cheval

Creole Chrome was a blowout winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Cheval on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, where he drew out by 18 lengths over Lee Street.

The Cheval, for 3-year-olds at a mile, was one of six Louisiana-bred stakes on the card. The races were each worth $100,000 and annually honor a group of Louisiana industry legends.

This year’s class was jockeys Kerwin “Boo Boo” Clark, Eric Guerin and Abe Hawkins; breeders Joe Adcock and John Franks; and trainer Dale Angelle.

Creole Chrome ($2.10) returned to the Louisiana-bred ranks for the Cheval after a spring season in which he ran fourth in the Blue Grass. He settled in third through an opening quarter in 23.99, then moved to the fore through a half-mile in 47.02.

Creole Chrome continued to lead through six furlongs in 1:11.95, then opened up on his rivals through the stretch. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:37.58.

Tim Thornton, who won three of the stakes Saturday, was aboard for trainer Joe Sharp.

Creole Chrome is a son of Volatile who races for Three Diamonds Farm.

Thornton also accounted for the off-the-turf Distaff with Kalil ($6). She won by 7 1/2 lengths over Jojo Bean.

Kalil set fractions of 23.47 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.01 for the half-mile and 1:12.65 for six furlongs before covering the mile in 1:39.25.

Jeff Delhomme trains the daughter of Practical Joke for Set-Hut LLC.

Highly Wicked, who is 7 for 7 on the turf course at Evangeline, was scratched when the race was moved to the main track.

Thornton additionally won the Mademoiselle aboard Six String, who wired her rivals for a nose victory over 1-5 favorite Synthetic.

Six String ($11.20) covered the 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:03.76.

Allen Landry trains the daughter of Star Guitar for her breeders, World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing.

Landry won two stakes on the card, with his other winner, Wicked as Haggart, taking the Turf that ended up being run on the main track. Wicked as Haggart ($2.80) wired his rivals for a six-length victory over Good and Stout.

Jansen Melancon was aboard the winner, who set fractions of 24.72 for the opening quarter, 48.94 for the half-mile and 1:12.73 for six furlongs before going on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.62.

Wicked as Haggart is a son of Bobby’s Wicked One who races for his breeder, Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables.

Double for Devereux, Hernandez

The trainer-jockey team of Patrick Devereux Jr. and Colby Hernandez had a stakes double, taking the Sprint with El Dinero and the Soiree with Midnight Passion.

El Dinero ($36.40) rallied into fractions of 22.39 for the opening quarter and 45.34 for the half-mile to win the 5 1/2-furlong Sprint in 1:04.06. It was a neck back in second to Clear as a Bele.

El Dinero is a son of Forestry who races for Tav Enterprises.

Midnight Passion improved her career record to 5 for 6 in the Soiree, which was for 3-year-old fillies at a mile. She covered the distance in 1:40.

Midnight Passion ($3.20) won by 4 3/4 lengths over Liteupthenite.

Midnight Passion is a daughter of Quality Road who races for her breeder, Coteau Grove Farms.

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