Heitai tries to start new streak in Need for Speed

OPELOUSAS, La. – Seven of the region’s fastest sprinters will assemble Saturday night at Evangeline Downs for the $60,000 Need for Speed Stakes. The five-furlong turf dash should prove to be a critical prep for next month’s inaugural running of the $300,000 Evangeline Turf Sprint.

The quickest of the quick in the Need for Speed appears to be Heitai. The 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus had a four-race winning streak snapped April 10 in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Prior to that effort, in which he set blistering early fractions of 21.20 seconds and 43.60, the Karl Broberg charge accounted for the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint, the Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds, the Premier Sprint at Delta Downs, and the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes after returning to New Orleans in the spring.

Overall, Heitai has won seven times from 18 starts. Regular rider Diego Saenz will once again handle the riding chores.

Chifforobe is a bit of a five-furlong specialist on grass, with a 2-1-0 record from three starts over the surface. Most recently, Chifforobe has been competing at Will Rogers Downs, where he posted a win and a second-place performance from two recent stakes attempts while racing on dirt. Jody Pruitt has given the call in the Need for Speed to Joe Patin.

Last year’s Need for Speed winner, Unitas, will be back to defend his title as he returns to grass for the first time since then. The 6-year-old veteran, trained by Brett Brinkman, showed some improvement in his most recent start, finishing second in the local Oak Hall Stakes. Unitas had a dull winter campaign at Fair Grounds but is back at his favorite oval. Emanuel Nieves will be in the saddle.