Extra Credit seeks payback against Trust Factor

Extra Credit will attempt to turn the tables on archrival Trust Factor on Saturday night when they meet at Evangeline Downs in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Turf.

“We hope we get our nose down first as opposed to last time,” said Brad Cox, who trains Extra Credit.

The Turf is for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles and is one of seven Louisiana-bred stakes on a program worth $600,000. Evangeline will have a $50,000 minimum guaranteed pick four pool on races 4-7. The Turf goes as the second race on the card.

Trust Factor and Extra Credit finished a nose apart when a respective one-two in the Dixie Poker Ace on March 3 at Fair Grounds. A few starts prior, Extra Credit won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf over Trust Factor at Fair Grounds.

Trust Factor will be moving back into the Louisiana-bred ranks after setting the pace and finishing seventh in the Opening Verse on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Extra Credit has not run since the Dixie Poker Ace to await the Louisiana Legends Turf.

“He was in good form all winter at the Fair Grounds,” Cox said of Extra Credit. “Going into the spring, we targeted this race. He had a fantastic breeze this past weekend at Churchill Downs. We’re excited. Hopefully, there’ll be some pace in there for us to run at. If so, we’ve got a big shot to win.”

Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount on Extra Credit for Klein Racing.

“Shaun knows the horse very well,” Cox said. “He knows when to push the button on him.”

Colby Hernandez has the mount on Trust Factor, the winner of last year’s Louisiana Legends Turf when the race was run at Louisiana Downs. Mike Maker trains the horse for Scrivener Stables.

Others in the Turf include Mageez, who is cross-entered in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic, and Sir Genghis, who is cross-entered in the $75,000 Sprint.

Monte Man will start as the probable favorite in the Sprint as the winner of his last four starts. He is unbeaten in Louisiana, where he moved after being claimed for $25,000 last October at Belmont Park. Monte Man will break from post 3 in the 5 1/2-furlong Sprint.

“If he just runs his race, I think he’ll be the one to beat,” trainer Ron Faucheux said. “My biggest concern is being down on the inside, in the three hole. We seem to kind of always draw outside posts with him, and he’s always run well doing that.”

Monte Man is looking for his third straight stakes win, after accounting for the $120,000 Premier Night Sprint on Feb. 10 at Delta Downs and the $60,000 Costa Rising on turf March 24 at Fair Grounds.

“I do think he is a horse that probably would prefer a little farther distance – 6, 6 1/2,” Faucheux said, “but he missed the break going five-eighths at Delta and still got up.”

Gerard Melancon has the mount for Ivery Sisters Racing.

The Sprint, which has 12 horses in the body of the field and two also-eligibles, is the final leg of the guaranteed pick four. The sequence opens with the $75,000 Soiree for 3-year-old fillies at a mile. The field includes Testing One Two, the probable favorite as a two-time stakes winner at two turns. Among her wins is the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks in her last start March 24 at Fair Grounds.

The $75,000 Mademoiselle is next in the sequence, and the 5 1/2-furlong stakes for fillies and mares race drew a field of 11. Overthegardengate has a chance to wire the field off back-to-back optional $30,000 claiming sprint wins, one at Delta in March and the other at Evangeline in April.

“She’s always been a solid filly, always looked like on form she excelled more at Delta than any other place," said trainer Bret Calhoun. "She’s carried her form over to Evangeline. She’s a sharp filly in good form, got a lot of confidence right now, and five and a half is a good distance for her.”

Diego Saenz has the mount from post 2.

The third leg of the pick four is a starter allowance at a mile on turf, with the purse $50,000.

The $75,000 Distaff, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, goes as the third race. Pacific Pink will attempt to win the race for the second year in a row. She is part of a field of eight that includes multiple stakes winner Mr. Al’s Gal. Pacific Pink enters off a win over Mr. Al’s Gal in an optional $30,000 claiming route May 2 at Evangeline. It was Pacific Pink’s fifth win in six starts over the local main track. Overall, she is 11 for 27.

The program opens with the Cheval, a mile race for 3-year-olds topped by Battle At Sea, winner of the Crescent City Derby last out at Fair Grounds, and Double Star, winner of the Equine Sales Derby last out at Evangeline. Zippy is moving back to dirt after running third in the $75,000 English Channel at Gulfstream.