Heitai wins big in inaugural Evangeline Turf Sprint

Heitai proved to be the dominant speed in the inaugural $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint on Saturday, wiring a competitive group of sprinters for a 3 3/4-length win over Whiskey Bravo. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Heitai’s stablemate, Snappy Girl.

The Turf Sprint anchored a program of five stakes worth a cumulative $640,000. The $100,000 Evangeline Mile went to Sunbean, while other highlights of the card included Malibu Yankee’s win in the $100,000 Opelousas.

Boyd Gaming, the parent company of Evangeline, introduced the new race this year following its recent acquisition of the Opelousas, La., track. The Turf Sprint was the richest Thoroughbred race run at Evangeline in its 49-year history. Boyd also owns Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

Heitai was the 2-1 favorite Saturday on the strength of his natural speed. He came into the five-furlong Turf Sprint off back-to-back stakes wins at Evangeline, taking his turf debut May 3 in the $60,000 Need for Speed and the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint on May 24.

“I imagined us winning this race the day Boyd Gaming announced it was being run at Evangeline,” said Karl Broberg, who trains Heitai for Rowell Enterprises. “I really thought he would take to the grass and be that kind. He’s just so freakishly fast.”

Heitai ($6.60) broke in at the start of the Turf Sprint, regrouped, and in the blink of an eye was in command of the field through an opening quarter in 21.28 seconds. Sum of the Parts took up the chase, but Heitai further separated himself from his rivals through a half-mile in 43.81 seconds before going on to cover the distance on firm ground in 56.03.

“He was pulling on my reins, and I knew he was getting it,” said winning rider Diego Saenz. “That was huge.”

Heitai earned $180,000 for owners Frank and Barbara Rowell. The horse has now won 10 of 21 starts and earned $679,943. Heitai is a 4-year-old by Fusaichi Pegasus, and he was bred in Louisiana by Rowell Enterprises.

The remaining order of finish in the Turf Sprint was Sum of the Parts in fourth, followed by Gantry, Lemon Drop Dream, Solar Charge, Redhotrush, Berlino Di Tiger, and Unitas.

Evangeline offered an all-stakes pick four on the fifth through eighth races, with the sequence ending on the Turf Sprint. The bet paid $416.20. The wager had a $100,000 guaranteed pool. The final pool was $210,730.