Sunbean dominates Louisiana Legends Classic

Sunbean continued his dominance over fellow Louisiana-breds on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, winning his ninth a row against statebreds after he cruised to an easy five-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic. The Classic was one of eight stakes worth a cumulative $800,000 on a program that featured Louisiana’s best.

With regular rider Richard Eramia aboard, Sunbean tracked early leader Coneyo Fontova before taking over in the second turn after leisurely fractions of 24.80 seconds, 48.96, and 1:13.43. Eramia merely sat on the 4-year-old Sunbean down the lane as they drew off as they pleased in a time of 1:44.21.

“He’s just a nice horse, that’s all you can say,” said Eramia from the winner’s circle. “You can put him anywhere you want and he relaxes. There’s not much more you can say.”

Trained by Ron Faucheaux, Sunbean has now earned more than $634,000 for owner Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable.

In the $100,000 Soiree for 3-year-old turf fillies, All Woman ($7.80) slipped through along the rail after a thrilling stretch run that saw four fillies together at the finish. Our Quista finished second after pressing the issue from the outset with pacesetter Closing Report a head farther back and a nose in front of Another Pinot. The winner is trained Velton Vidrine and she covered the mile over firm going in 1:37.63.

It was Snappy Girl ($8.60) in the $100,000 Mademoiselle for filly and mare sprinters as she held a fast-closing Blessed Immaculata safe by 1 1/4 lengths at the wire. Ridden by leading rider Diego Saenz and trained by Karl Broberg, the 4-year-old Snappy Girl won for the third time at the young meeting and for the second time in stakes company. She covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.43.

In the $100,000 Cheval, Drewssasin ($21) controlled the pace throughout in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds before kicking clear late by two lengths under a heady ride by Tracy Hebert. The winner is trained by Lonnie Briley and covered the distance in 1:37.19.

The $100,000 Distaff was next and Tensas Harbor ($8.40) rallied strongly down the center of the track under Colby Hernandez to win by 2 ½ lengths in a time of 1:45.29 for 1 1/16 miles. Tensas Harbor, who also won the Premier Distaff for Louisiana-breds at Delta Downs earlier this year, is trained by Keith Desormeaux.

Heitai ($3.20) ran to his short price to take the $100,000 Legends Sprint giving Broberg a stakes double on the evening. Diego Saenz also picked up his second Legends victory after breaking Heitai sharply from the far outside. They dueled with fellow speedster Reece’s Wildcat through a very quick opening quarter in 21.13. The winner began to inch away late in the turn en route to a 43.87 half-mile fraction and remained clear to the wire to stop the timer in 1:03.38 for 5 ½ furlongs.

Skipberry Wine ($12.40) rallied from last to first in the $100,000 Legends Turf, surviving a claim of foul in the process. The Sam Breaux-trained Skipberry Wine swung out six wide turning for home under Gerard Melancon before finishing with good late energy to prevail while drifting in past the furlong marker, helping to tighten up fourth- place finisher Request A Puck, whose rider’s claim of foul was not allowed by the stewards. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.55.

In the $50,000 Legends Starter, Dorsey’s Dream ($7.40) kicked clear by4 ¾ lengths under a clever, ground-saving ride by Joe Patin. The Keith Bourgeois-trained Dorsey’s Dream improved on a near-miss in optional company in his first start since Bourgeois claimed the 7-year-old for $10,000 at Delta Downs in February. The winning time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.53.