Laughingsaintssong pulls clear in the stretch to win Louisiana Legends Night Sprint

Laughingsaintssong won the $60,000 Louisiana Legends Night Sprint with authority Saturday at Evangeline Downs as he continues to affirm his status as one of the top Louisiana-breds in training.

The Legends Sprint was the horse’s third victory on a statebred stakes card, following the Louisiana Cup Sprint last August at Louisiana Downs and the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint in December at Fair Grounds.

Evangeline put on six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds, each worth $60,000. The total purses of $360,000 made the program the richest of the meet.

The Sprint featured a showdown between Monte Man, the 2018 Louisiana-bred of the year who had won the last two runnings of the race, and Laughingsaintssong. The latter stalked the pace as A Flash of Copper took the field through an opening quarter in 22.28 seconds and a half-mile in 45.72. The eventual winner moved to the lead into the stretch and went on to cover 5 1/2 furlongs on a track rated fast in 1:04.22.

Laughingsaintssong ($4.80) won by 1 3/4 lengths over Scarlettsblackjack, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Monte Man.

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Tim Thornton rode Laughingsaintssong for trainer Allen Landry. Rodney Verret owns the winner, who is a son of Songandaprayer. Laughingsaintssong has now won 10 of 26 starts for earnings of $363,010.

Stakes double for Heiligbrodts, Asmussen

Shang and Vacherie Girl gave owners Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, trainer Steve Asmussen, and jockey Joel Dominguez a stakes double on the card, when the former captured the Turf and the latter the Soiree.

Shang ($3.60) rallied for a half-length win over Treys Midnight Moon. The winner stalked the pace set by In the Navy, who took the field through six furlongs in 1:12.55. Shang advanced and covered the mile on firm turf in 1:36.63. It was the first turf win for Shang, who was second in the Dixie Poker Ace at Fair Grounds in February, his only other turf outing. He is a son of Shanghai Bobby.

Vacherie Girl ($4.20) was a head winner over Southern Liasion in a three-horse dash to the wire, while it was another half-length back in third to Quikfast N Ahurry. The winner covered the mile for 3-year-old fillies in 1:41.39. Vacherie Girl is a daughter of Tapiture. She was winning the third stakes race of her career, while Shang was winning his fourth, among them last year’s Cheval on Louisiana Legends Night.

* Relentless Dancer ($2.20) remained perfect in Louisiana-bred company with his 1 3/4-length win over Sydster in the Cheval. The mile race was for 3-year-olds. Relentless Dancer has made one other start against statebreds and won the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy last October at Delta Downs. Gerard Melancon was aboard the son of Midshipman on Saturday, for a pace-pressing trip in which Relentless Dancer covered the distance in 1:38.21. Relentless Dancer is owned by Paradise Farms, Terry Raymond, and Jana Wagner and trained by Mike Maker.

* Mariah’s Galaxy ($9.20) was a head winner over Net a Bear in the Turf Distaff. She stalked the pace through fractions of 24.60 for the opening quarter, 49.22 for the half-mile, and 1:13.51 for six furlongs before moving to the fore and covering the mile on firm turf in 1:37.15. Kevin Smith rode the winner, who is by Greeley’s Galaxy, for Riley Blanchet and Todd Matte and trainer Victor Arceneaux.

* Snowball ($26.20) closed for a half-length win over Saints N Muskets – a half-sister to Laughingsaintssong – in the Mademoiselle. The winner covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.15. Ty Kennedy was aboard Snowball, a daughter of Apriority, for Tin Roof Farms and trainer Sam Breaux.