Monte Man gets repeat victory in Louisiana Legends Sprint

Monte Man won the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint for the second year in a row Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The start was his first since the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association named him the Louisiana-bred of the Year for 2018.

The Sprint was one of six stakes on the annual Louisiana Legends Night card at Evangeline. The races were worth $450,000 to make for the richest card of the meet. Each of the divisional stakes was restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.

Monte Man, who won five stakes while going 6 for 7 overall in 2018, was moving back to dirt for the Sprint. He had one horse beat through an opening quarter in 22.64 seconds, then advanced through a half-mile in 45.67. Monte Man moved to the lead in the later stages, going on to a three-quarter-length win over Win Lion Win. Monte Man covered 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.02.

Gerard Melancon was aboard for Ivery Sisters Racing and trainer Ron Faucheux. Monte Man is a son of Custom for Carlos who has won 12 of 33 starts and earned $491,145.

Shang was a one-length winner over Power Jet in the $75,000 Cheval, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds. It was another four lengths back to Inspector Eddie in third. Shang ($3.20) was content to let the speed go, sitting off fractions of 24.61 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.80 for the half-mile, and 1:13.80 for six furlongs. He moved to the lead in the stretch and went on to cover the distance in 1:38.26.

Richard Eramia was aboard Shang, a son of Shanghai Bobby, for trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse, who races for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $215,600.

In the $75,000 Soiree, the Cheval counterpart for 3-year-old fillies, Snowball led throughout for a three-quarter-length win. Net a Bear was second, and it was 2 1/4 lengths back to Cicada’s Song in third.

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Snowball ($15.40) led through fractions of 24.31 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.17 for the half-mile, and 1:13.38 for six furlongs before covering the mile in 1:39.69. Diego Saenz was aboard for Tin Roof Farms and trainer Sam Breaux. Snowball, a daughter of Apriority, has won 2 of 10 starts and earned $108,060.

The win was one of two stakes victories on the card for Saenz, who also guided Bermuda Star to a half-length win in the $75,000 Turf Distaff. Is Too finished second, while it was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Tap Dance Star in third.

Bermuda Star ($11.20) stalked the pace set by Mi Copa Rebosa, who set fractions of 24.66 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.59 for the half-mile, and 1:14.10 for six furlongs. The winner moved to the lead in the stretch and went on to cover the mile on firm turf in 1:37.19. Victor Arceneaux trains Bermuda Star for Brittlyn Stable. Bermuda Star is a daughter of Star Guitar who was winning her fourth stakes in the Turf Distaff. Overall, she is 7 for 21 for earnings of $288,080.

Jockey Roberto Morales, who won the first stakes on the card with Ours to Run ($2.20) in the $75,000 Mademoiselle, accounted for the final one of the night with Mageez in the $75,000 Turf.

Mageez ($12.20) trailed through an opening half-mile in 49.54 seconds, advanced from there, then overtook pacesetter In the Navy late for a head win. Mageez covered the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.27. Delmar Caldwell trains Mageez for Double Dam Farm. Mageez is a son of Market Man who has won 8 of 40 starts and earned $490,400.