String King, Heitai among statebred stars at Louisiana Legends Night

OPELOUSAS, La. – Louisiana’s best are all set to go Saturday at Evangeline Downs for the annual Louisiana Legends Night program. A total of eight stakes restricted to horses bred in the Bayou State will be worth $775,000. All divisions will be represented except for 2-year-olds, who will have center stage to themselves July 11, when the two divisions of the $100,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity will be contested.

This year’s Legends Night is loaded with star power, beginning with String King in the $100,000 Legends Turf. Owned, trained, and bred by Charlie Smith, the 7-year-old Crowned King gelding accounted for the Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley Stakes over the Fair Grounds turf early in the year while facing open company. In his one start since, String King finished second against open company in the John Henry Stakes here in April after the race was rained onto the main track. A return to his favorite surface and statebred competition likely will result in one of the shortest-priced favorites of the night.

Reigning Legends Sprint winner Heitai is back to defend his title and also will be a prohibitive favorite. The winner of last year’s inaugural Evangeline Turf Sprint, Heitai is a winner over both surfaces this year, having defeated fellow Louisiana-breds on grass in the Costa Rising at Fair Grounds in March and the Premier Night Sprint on dirt at Delta Downs.

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In the $125,000 Legends Classic at 1 1/16 miles over the main track, favoritism could go to Stormdriver. The winner of the John Henry over String King in April, the Pat Devereux Jr. trainee most recently finished second to West Coast invader Mystery Train in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile on June 6.

The $100,000 Legends Distaff looks to be one of the most competitive events of the evening, as an evenly matched field of nine has been entered. Another Pinot could rule a tepid public choice off a pair of allowance victories earlier in the meeting.

Veterans Afternoon Tango and Snappy Girl will renew their rivalry in the $100,000 Legends Mademoiselle for female sprinters at 5 1/2 furlongs. Wire Me Bessie, the impressive winner of the Tellike Stakes on May 1, also will garner support.

Mobile Bay will look to extend his winning streak to three in the $100,000 Legends Cheval for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf. Trained by Victor Arceneaux, Mobile Bay won an allowance race at Saturday’s distance over the local turf course May 8 and most recently accounted for the Lafayette Stakes against fellow Louisiana-breds on June 6. Four Leaf Chief, the winner of the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds in March, appears to be his primary opposition.

The $100,000 Legends Soiree for 3-year-old fillies on turf is loaded with contenders, including local stakes winner Forest Lake; Pacific Pink, the winner of her lone turf start and the Crescent City Oaks over the Fair Grounds main track this year; Persuade Me Lady, second in the Acadiana Stakes in her most recent start; and Thiscatcanjam, victorious in three of her four career starts, including the Acadiana in her stakes debut last out.