Ide Like a Double seeks repeat

Ide Like a Double, impressive winner of last year's Oak Hall Stakes, has a good shot for an Oak Hall repeat when he faces seven rivals in the seven-furlong, $50,000 feature at Evangeline Downs.

Trained by Byron Gilbert, the 5-year-old Ide Like a Double comes into the Oak Hall in a fashion similar to a year ago. He most recently finished fourth behind one of the region's top handicap performers, Star Guitar, in the Louisiana Showcase Classic on July 3. A year ago, he prepped for the Oak Hall by running second to Star Guitar in the July 4 Pola Benoit Memorial.

Ide Like a Double captured the $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes earlier this year at Fair Grounds and seems poised to add to his five local victories.

The main threat to the defending champ could be the improving Steve Asmussen-trained Headstart, who comes off an impressive win in an optional $30,000 claimer on June 17 in his second start back after some freshening. As a 3-year-old last year, Headstart won the $75,000 Sportsman Paradise Stakes at Delta Downs.