NEW ORLEANS – An eight-month layoff appears to have done Eagle plenty of good. After finishing out of the money in a tune-up sprint in September at Churchill Downs in his first start back, Eagle has been soaring around two turns. He’s on a three-race winning streak, capped by his first stakes victory, a sharp score in the Tenacious Handicap on Dec. 19 at Fair Grounds. Under a hand ride from Brian Hernandez Jr., Eagle, trained by Neil Howard, ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:41.63 to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The time was the fastest at the track for the distance since March 2011. “He’s a really, really athletic horse,” Hernandez said. “His last race was really impressive.” Because of that performance, Eagle, a 4-year-old Candy Ride colt, likely will be the favorite Saturday in the $75,000 Louisiana Stakes for 4-year-olds and up. All seven entrants are at least graded placed, including multiple graded stakes winners International Star, Majestic Harbor, and Coup de Grace. The distance is 1 1/16 miles. As a precocious 2-year-old, Eagle capped his 2014 season with a third-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner El Kabeir, in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Howard said Eagle was a playful youngster. “He was a little too much on his game,” Howard said. “He just really needed to mature, and he has.” The layoff, due to a minor injury, put Eagle off the Triple Crown trail. A small chip was removed from a knee after he finished seventh in the Lecomte Stakes last year. While sidelined, Eagle had a chance to develop physically and mentally, Howard said. “He’s doing everything better now,” he said. International Star, trained by Mike Maker, swept the Lecomte, Risen Star, and Louisiana Derby last season. The colt was scratched from the Kentucky Derby the morning of the race due to an injury. Racing for the first time since the Louisiana Derby, International Star finished fourth, 13 lengths behind winner Mobile Bay, in the Zia Park Derby on Nov. 25. Usually a stretch runner, International Star set a slow pace before fading. “I didn’t like the fact he was on the front end at all,” co-owner Ken Ramsey said. “I think you’ll see a different horse this time around.” Tenacious Handicap runner-up Freestyler, trained by Joe Sharp, and Majestic Harbor, trained by Paul McGee, are cross-entered in other stakes Saturday and could be scratched. Freestyler made a solid late run in the Tenacious. Ride On Curlin, the 2014 Preakness runner-up, was third in the Tenacious in his second start since May. “He will run well,” trainer Billy Gowan said. “He’s just now getting fit.’’ :: Bet Fair Grounds with DRF Bets. Get a $200 deposit bonus, plus free exotic bets and bonuses all summer long! Find out more today Street of Gold looms in Krantz Street of Gold, who rallied to finish a close second in the Blushing K.D. on Dec. 19 in her first start under trainer Brad Cox, looms as a strong contender in the $60,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial on the turf Saturday. Her last 13 starts came in stakes races. The race, at about 1 1/16 miles, drew 14 fillies and mares ages 4 and up, plus two also-eligibles. “We expect the same effort out of her,’’ Cox said. “A little better post this time.’’ Street of Gold, who drew post 2 for Saturday, broke from the far-outside post in the Blushing K.D. and lost by a neck to Kitten’s Dumplings. Cox said his other Krantz entrant, the Tiffany Lass winner, Cash Control, might run in the Pippin Stakes on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. Another possible scratch is Magnificent Margo, whom Sharp entered for the Eldorado Stakes on Friday at Delta Downs. Trainer Mike Stidham, appears to have three legitimate contenders, each with a different style, among his four entrants. Front-runner Masquerade, who finished third in the Blushing K.D., and stalker Zubi Zubi Zu, who was blocked in the stretch in that race before finishing fourth, would benefit if the pace is moderate. The late-running Fila Primera, the Pago Hop Stakes winner, would appreciate a fast, contested pace. Grade 3 winner Uchenna, whose last three starts came in graded company, would need two scratches to draw into the race from the also-eligible list. Mark Casse trains Uchenna.