Heitai proves dominance in Premier Night Sprint

Heitai continued his dominance of the Louisiana-bred sprint ranks Saturday night at Delta Downs, where he was hooked and shook free for a 2 3/4-length win in $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint. The race was one of six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds, with One King’s Man capturing the richest race on the night, the $200,000 Championship. He won by 3 1/2 lengths over Ide Be Cool, who finished a nose in front of the third-place finisher and 2-5 favorite Sunbean.

Heitai ($2.20) was winning his ninth stakes and his second straight Premier Night Sprint. He broke on top from the rail in the five-furlong race and was hooked from the outside by Louisiana Glory, with the pair rolling through an opening quarter in 21.85 seconds. The pair continued on through a half-mile in 45.13 before Heitai separated himself from his pace foe and went on to win in 57.93 on a track rated fast. Gerard Melancon was aboard for trainer Tom Amoss.

Heitai earned $60,000 for owner-breeder Rowell Enterprises. He now has won 13 of 28 starts and $883,543.

In the Championship, One King’s Man rolled past dueling leaders Ide Be Cool and Sunbean in the stretch. Miguel Mena rode the winner for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Joe Sharp.

One King’s Man was content to race in sixth as Ide Be Cool jumped out to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile race and took the field through an opening quarter in 23.72 and a half-mile in 48.83. He was later joined by Sunbean, and the two took their battle into the stretch as One King’s Man unleashed a strong closing kick and won going away in 1:46.47.

One King’s Man earned $120,000 for his first stakes win. Overall he is 9 for 33 for earnings of $420,304. One King’s Man is a 5-year-old by K One King, and he was bred by Steve Crowe.

Graham sweeps 3-year-old stakes

Jockey James Graham swept both 3-year-old stakes on the card when the 30-1 shot Private Promise surged for a head win in the $125,000 Starlet and Mr. L. S. Shoe got up by a head to deliver as the favorite in the $125,000 Prince. Both races were run at seven furlongs, which is a two-turn race at Delta.

Private Promise ($62) tracked the pace before overtaking the leaders to win in a photo. She covered the distance in 1:28.44. C. Blaine Williams trains Private Promise for Southern Legacy Thoroughbreds. She is a daughter of Private Vow.

Mr. L. S. Shoe ($4) remained undefeated in four starts when he won his two-turn debut in the Prince. He raced in eighth early before closing with a flourish to win in 1:27.37. Jim Hodges trains Mr. L. S. Shoe for owner-breeder Phyllis Hodges. Mr. L. S. Shoe is by Forefathers.

** Tensas Harbor ($7.80) defended her title in the $150,000 Distaff with a sweeping finish, closing to win by 4 1/4 lengths over even-money favorite Our Quista. Tensas Harbor covered the mile in 1:40.54. Mena was aboard for Cantrell Family Partnership and trainer Keith Desormeaux. Tensas Harbor now has won 7 of 23 starts and $443,450. She is a 5-year-old by Private Vow.

** Afternoon Tango ($7.60) was placed first in the $100,000 Matron after the first-place finisher Solid Sender was disqualified for stretch interference. Solid Sender had bested Afternoon Tango by a nose and covered five furlongs in 59.15. Diego Saenz was the rider of Afternoon Tango, a 4-year-old daughter of Afternoon Deelites who is owned by Big Aut Farms and trained by Patrick Devereux Jr.