Star Guitar headed back to Evangeline Mile

Star Guitar emerged from his victory in the $100,000 Louisiana Showcase Classic last Saturday night better than ever, according to trainer Al Stall Jr. The reigning Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year is on track to start in the Evangeline Mile against open company on Aug. 14. Last year he won the Evangeline Mile in addition to the meet's top race for statebred runners.

"We are in a little different situation this year versus last," Stall said while negotiating the Atlanta airport on his way back to his Kentucky base from Evangeline.

"Last year he had the Louisiana Cup win at Louisiana Downs sandwiched in between his two races at Evangeline so he was fit and stayed fit. This year he had a pretty good breather coming in and without sounding like we are bragging or anything, I didn't think he would need to be quite a 100 percent to win the other night. With a start under him now, he should be a sharper horse, which he will need to be in order to win the Mile again."

Stall also accounted for the biggest upset of the night when his Miss Bean Wah won the Showcase Distaff, spoiling odds-on favorite Superior Storm's bid to surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings. A win by Shezacrazygirl in the Showcase Filly Mile gave the barn a hat trick on the meeting's biggest evening.