Double Star targets Prelude Stakes

Double Star is back at his Louisiana Downs base after winning his second straight Evangeline Downs stakes on Saturday, and trainer Bob Schultz said the horse could make his next start at home in the Prelude Stakes.

The $60,000 Prelude, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, will be run Aug. 4 at Louisiana Downs.

“We could take a shot in there if they don’t have anything for straight 3-year-old Louisiana-breds,” Schultz said Monday.

Double Star won the $75,000 Equine Sales Derby, a mile stakes restricted to graduates of designated sales in Louisiana, on May 5 at Evangeline. He returned on Saturday night to take the $75,000 Cheval, also for 3-year-olds at a mile at Evangeline.

The Cheval was part of the Louisiana Legends program of statebred stakes at Evangeline. Double Star stalked the pace, then drew out by 8 1/4 lengths, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

“He took off in the middle of the turn,” Schultz said. “They went out there and [set quick fractions], and we kind of laid behind them.

“The race had two or three pretty nice horses in there, and for him to handle them like he handled them was kind of a shock to me. Pound for pound, they’d already beaten me a couple of times. I’m just hoping he’s getting better. I’m hoping that’s what he’s doing. He’s done just about everything we’ve asked him to do. We’ve been real pleased with him.”

Double Star, a son of Star Guitar, is owned by Four Star Racing and has a record of 4 for 11. The last time he ran in an open-company stakes he finished second by a nose to Reride in the Big Drama at Delta Downs in January, but was disqualified and placed third.

Schultz has trained such noted regional horses as Lee’s Spirit and Mystery Classic – who together won 15 stakes – and Gentlemengentlemen, who in 2016 won the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs. The 85-year-old horseman has raced at a host of tracks in the Southwest – many from their inception - since he began training in 1959.

“I opened Louisiana Downs up,” Schultz said. “I opened Delta up. I opened Evangeline up. I opened Lone Star up and I opened San Antonio.

“Horses have been good to us.”