Sunbean the star of Louisiana Legends Night

OPELOUSAS, La. – The best in the Bayou State are set to assemble Saturday at Evangeline Downs for Louisiana Legends Night. Eight stakes, all restricted to Louisiana-breds, will be worth a combined $750,000. First post is 5:40 p.m. Central.

Top billing on the Legends program has to go to Sunbean, who will be the prohibitive favorite in the $100,000 Legends Classic. So formidable is Sunbean that only four rivals could be coaxed into facing him.

A 4-year-old son of Brahms campaigned by Brittlyn Stable, Sunbean has won the last five statebred stakes he has competed in, including the Legends Mile here last year. He also won the Star Guitar Stakes at Fair Grounds in March. Fittingly enough, that race was named for another Brittlyn Stable star who won four consecutive Legends Classics beginning in 2009.

The $100,000 Legends Turf brings together an evenly matched field of eight set to go 1 1/16 miles. Valse could be a slight favorite on the strength of a 2 1/4-length victory in the allowance prep for the Turf this month. Benwill, the winner of the John Henry Stakes over the grass here in April, also will draw support.

Conspicuously absent from the Turf is last year’s winner, String King. Voted last season’s champion Louisiana-bred turf performer, the 6-year-old son of Crowned King is being given some time to freshen after a vigorous winter campaign at Fair Grounds, according to owner and trainer Charlie Smith.

The most competitive race on the program promises to be the $100,000 Legends Cheval. The one-mile test for 3-year-olds on grass drew a full field of 12 headed by Gold Appointment. Owned and trained by Robert Rockwell, Gold Appointment won the Crescent City Derby against statebreds at Fair Grounds this spring.

Also in the Cheval are Sir Genghis, a promising Tale of the Cat gelding trained by Bret Calhoun who has won two of his four starts while losing by a nose and a neck in the other two; Win Lion Win, victorious by a nose over Sir Genghis when they met over the Fair Grounds turf in March; and Da House, second in the grassy Sunny’s Halo Stakes on the Super Derby undercard at Louisiana Downs last September.