Hot Tempo faces Tensas Harbor in Matron Stakes

OPELOUSAS, La. – The first turf stakes of the Evangeline Downs meeting is slated for Friday night, with a talented field of fillies and mares set for the $60,000 Matron. The one-mile test drew a field of eight and will go as the eighth of 10 races at 8:49 p.m. Central.

Hot Tempo and Tensas Harbor likely will vie for the role of favorite, and deservedly so. Collectively, they have finished first or second in 12 of their last 13 starts.

Included in Hot Tempo’s recent exploits is a 1 3/4-length victory at Fair Grounds in March against second-level optional-claiming company. It was the Heatseeker filly’s second start for trainer Frank Leggio, who claimed Hot Tempo for $25,000 on Jan. 16 for new owners John Duvieilh and Stephen Landry.

“She was just a very honest-looking mare,” Leggio said when asked about the claim.

Previous trainer Tom Amoss also acquired Hot Tempo via the claim box, taking the then-3-year-old filly for $35,000 from Barclay Tagg at Saratoga last August. Amoss got a win and a pair of seconds from Hot Tempo while racing her at Indiana Downs, Keeneland, and Fair Grounds.

Evangeline Downs veteran Gerard Melancon will handle the riding chores Friday on Hot Tempo.

Tensas Harbor will attempt to run her local turf record to a perfect 3 for 3 in the Matron. The Keith Desormeaux charge accounted for a pair of allowance victories here last summer, both at the Matron’s one-mile distance.

“She won her first two starts on the grass, but not against the kind she will face Friday,” Desormeaux said. “We feel pretty good about our chances, though. Her Beyers say she belongs. This will be her first stakes try against open company.”

While she has yet to try open company at the stakes level, Tensas Harbor has enjoyed quite a bit of success against fellow Louisiana-breds, including a February victory in the $100,000 Premier Distaff at Delta Downs.

“She’s doing great going in. That’s why we entered,” Desormeaux said. “That bullet five-eighths she worked last week was solid, especially the way she finished up.”

Desormeaux has given the call to leading rider Colby Hernandez.

Others in the Matron include last year’s winner, Miss Addison; Sandsarita, trained by Steve Asmussen; Bluegrass Sapphire, second in the Blushing K.D. Handicap over the Fair Grounds turf in December; and veteran Little Ms Protocol, an earner of more than $640,000 in her 25-race career.