Star Guitar walks his beat at Evangeline Downs

OPELOUSAS, La. Reigning Louisiana-bred horse of the year Star Guitar lived up to his billing Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, successfully defending his title in the $100,000 Louisiana Showcase Classic. Star Guitar, trained by Al Stall Jr., won his sixth straight race against statebreds and his third in as many starts at Evangeline.

The Classic was one of 10 stakes races for statebreds on the meeting's biggest night.

Star Guitar stalked the early pace of the 1 1/16-mile race under regular rider Curt Bourque. He moved toward the front three wide into the far turn and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths after a prolonged drive over pacesetter Grey Papillon in1:44.79 over a fast strip. Break Up finished third, followed by Ide Like a Double.

The win was Star Guitar's 13th in just 18 starts, and the 5-year-old son of Quiet American has now earned over $910,000. He paid $2.60.

Stall and Bourque also teamed up for biggest surprise winner on the evening, as the 8-1 shot Miss Bean Wah handed Superior Storm her first defeat in 15 starts against Louisiana-breds. Bet down to 1-2 by her many backers, Superior Storm stalked the early pace before coming up empty in the drive to eventually finish fourth. The defeat spoiled Superior Storm's bid to reach the million-dollar mark in earnings, as the 5-year-old has now banked just over $972,000.

Miss Bean Wah ($18.80) avenged four previous defeats at the hands of Superior Storm and won for the fourth time in 18 starts. The Afternoon Deelites mare kicked clear by almost four lengths and set a track record of 1:41.96 for a mile and 70 yards in the process.

In the evening's other action, trainer Tony Richey posted an early double by winning the $50,000 Showcase Starter Stakes with Wholelotaking and the $75,000 Showcase Mile with Productive Envoy. Pat Valenzuela handled the riding duties on Wholelotaking, while Diego Saenz was aboard Productive Envoy.

Steve Asmussen also sent out a couple of winners, accounting for the $100,000 Ladies Sprint with Sax Appeal and the $100,000-added colt and gelding division of the D. S. "Shine" Young Futurity with Full Rigged.

Snakebite Kit returned to his winning ways in the $100,000 Showcase Turf, while Toro Bravo took down top honors in the filly division of the Shine. Foreign Production validated his impressive Louisiana Cup Sprint victory at Louisiana Downs in May with a 2 1/2-length tally in the $100,000 Showcase Sprint, and Shezacrazygirl completed the night's stake action by giving Stall a three-bagger with a victory in the Showcase Filly Mile.