Sunbean earns rest with win in Evangeline Mile

OPELOUSAS, La. – Having achieved both midseason goals set forth by his connections, Sunbean is going to get the rest of the summer off.

After toying with an outclassed group of four rivals in the Louisiana Legends Classic last month, Sunbean ventured out into open company last Saturday and again made things look easy, powering clear to win the Evangeline Mile by 1 1/2 expanding lengths. Left in his wake was multiple graded stakes winner Grand Contender, among others. His latest conquest was Sunbean’s 10th career victory from just 16 starts and the first that did not come at the expense of fellow Louisiana-breds.

“You probably won’t see him for at least two months,” trainer Ron Faucheux said Monday. “He came back in great shape after the race, but there really isn’t anything for him in the region the rest of the summer. We might look at a race at Remington [the $175,000, 1 1/8-mile Governor’s Cup on Aug. 16], but we are not in any hurry. There are so many opportunities for him in the fall and winter that we can take our time.”

A start in the Governor’s Cup would closely resemble the schedule that Sunbean kept last season. After winning the Legends Mile for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds at Evangeline in early July, Faucheux and owner Evelyn Benoit of Brittlyn Stables tested open company in the Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs in early August, with an automatic berth in that track’s Grade 2 Super Derby on the line. Sunbean turned in a solid runner-up performance and then went to the sidelines.

He resurfaced at Delta Downs in early November and defeated older company for the first time in the one mile, $100,000 Gold Cup. Victories in the $150,000 Champion’s Day Classic at Fair Grounds, the $200,000 Premier at Delta, and the Star Guitar at Fair Grounds followed before a third-place finish in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap to Palace Malice in late March. Faucheux said a similar fall and winter slate will be in store for Sunbean.

Faucheux also sent out Off Cycle, the winner of Saturday’s Acadiana Stakes at seven furlongs on the main track for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. Faucheux owns Off Cycle in partnership with Ted Arnaud. The victory was the daughter of Harborage’s seventh and the latest chapter in one of the best bargain stories in the state in recent years.

“We bought her for $1,000 at the Monroe, La., sale [Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana] in 2012,” Faucheux said. “She’s run up, what, $170,000? Things don’t turn out this way often, but she has sure been good to us.”

Faucheux said Off Cycle will start next in the $150,000 Elge Rasberry for Louisiana sales graduates at a mile on turf at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 2.

“The money is awfully good,” Faucheux said. “Plus, she has already won on the grass.”

Also visiting the winner’s circle Saturday was Pat Mouton, who sent out Louisiana Flyboy to an impressive victory in the Lafayette Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds.

Lagging well back early in the seven-furlong dirt race, Louisiana Flyboy circled the field six wide and won going away by almost four lengths. It was the second dramatic win for Louisiana Flyboy in as many starts for Mouton, as the Fusaichi Pegasus colt overcame a very troubled start to win his debut at Louisiana Downs last summer.

Following that impressive maiden win, Louisiana Flyboy was sent to New York and trainer Chad Brown over the winter, where he turned in a couple of runner-up performances in entry-level optional claimers.

“You can’t help but be a little concerned,” Mouton said after the race about his charge’s early position in the Lafayette. “But he was even further back in his maiden win and came running.”

Mouton said his plans for Louisiana Flyboy also include a stakes race at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 2.

“He’s eligible for that sales stakes [$150,000 A. L. “Red” Erwin for colts and geldings at a mile on turf]. He doesn’t have a lot of turf in his pedigree, but he might be good enough to overcome that.”