Melancon rides stakes winners at two tracks in same day

Jockey Gerard Melancon had a productive day last Saturday. He won the colt and gelding division of the $100,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes on the Steve Asmussen-trained Powerfully at Evangeline Downs at night after winning the $50,000 Stardust Stakes at Louisiana Downs aboard Fort Hood for trainer Brett Brinkman.
“I think I may have done that once before,” recalled Melancon about his riding stakes double at two tracks. “I just don’t remember when. I must be getting old.”
Melancon was speaking from Delaware Park, where he was visiting his son, Jansen, who is riding there this summer.
Melancon may now have to make a difficult choice. Both Powerfully and Fort Hood are 2-year-olds and the next race in the region for the division is the $50,000 Lafayette Stakes on closing day at Evangeline on Sept. 6.