Maga Man survives stewards inquiry, takes Louisiana Legends Turf
Maga Man withstood a bid from Jax Man, a stewards inquiry and a rider’s objection to win the $70,000 Louisiana Legends Turf on a sloppy track Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.
Maga Man won by a 1 1/4 lengths over Jax Man. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Grand Luwegee.
The Turf was one of six divisional Louisiana-bred stakes on the card, with each worth $70,000. Purses for the races were boosted by $10,000 each, and their cumulative value of $420,000 made the Louisiana Legends program the richest card of the meet.
Maga Man ($11.80) was prominent from the start, taking the field through the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:12.74. In the stretch, Jax Man made up some ground on the winner up the rail in a tight battle. Maga Man had more and went on to cover the distance on a sealed track in 1:45.24.
Kevin Smith rode the winner for Whispering Oaks Farm and trainer Steve Flint.
Following the race, the stewards called for an inquiry into the stretch run, it was announced. Soon afterward, the rider of Jax Man lodged a claim of foul against Maga Man. After a fair amount of time, there was no change made to the order of finish.
Maga Man is a son of Musket Man. He was winning his first stakes and is now 6 for 26 for earnings of $233,960.
Winning Romance by 20
Winning Romance pulled a “Secretariat” in the Soiree, winning off by double digits in a stakes on the first Saturday in June. She rolled home by 20 3/4 lengths over Inawic in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies and paid $2.60.
Diego Saenz was aboard for breeder and owner Allied Racing Stable and trainer Bret Calhoun.
Winning Romance covered the distance on a muddy, sealed track in 1:38.75. She is a daughter of First Samurai and was coming off back-to-back starts against the undefeated Australasia.
The stakes was the first on the card, which was hit with a rainstorm.
* Chu Chu’s Legacy ($10.60) relished the sloppy going in the Cheval for 3-year-olds, winning by six lengths over Wise Verdict. He covered the distance in 1:39.18. Joe Stokes was aboard for owner and trainer Allen Landry. Chu Chu’s Legacy is by Bind.
* Bertie’s Galaxy ($6) was a 3 3/4-length winner over Wild Bert in the Sprint, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in the slop in 1:03.53. Saenz was aboard the winner for Allen Cassedy and trainer Ron Faucheux. Bertie’s Galaxy is by Greeley’s Galaxy.
* Offspring ($7.80) won her second straight stakes in the Distaff when she darted home in front by 1 3/4 lengths over Quikfast N Ahurry. She covered the mile on sloppy track in 1:39.57. Roberto Morales was aboard the daughter of Into Mischief for Oak Tree Stable and trainer Edward Johnston.
* Cilla ($19.60) cruised to a four and a quarter length win over Snowball in the Mademoiselle, covering the 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares in the slop in 1:03.74. Joel Dominguez was aboard the daughter of California Chrome for Dale P. Ladner and trainer Brett Brinkman. Ladner and Brinkman are the co-breeders of Cilla, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Jack the Umpire.