La. Downs: Happy Ticket still perfect

Happy Ticket ran her career record to a perfect 8 for 8 with an impressive 6 1/4-length win in the Suthern Accent Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Pacesetter Southern Surprise narrowly held off Red Lifesaver for the place while Baileys Affair finished fourth.

In making her first start since winning the Louisiana Champions' Day Ladies Stakes last December at Fair Grounds, Happy Ticket stalked Southern Surprise through moderate early fractions of 22.52 and 46.15 seconds before collaring her turning for home. Under only token encouragement from John Jacinto, the 4-year-old Louisiana-bred daughter of Anet drew out and stopped the timer in a sparkling 1:09.57 for six furlongs

Trained by Andy Leggio for Stewart Madison, Happy Ticket has won around both one turn and two and over dirt and turf.

"I thought it was pretty awesome," said the usually low-key Leggio. "At the end of the year, I told [Stewart Madison] that she needed a little bit of time. Stewart is very patient . . . he said, 'Tell me when she's ready.' I knew she was ready after that 57-one work two weeks ago."