Sunbean tops Evangeline Mile on Turf Sprint undercard

OPELOUSAS, La. – Sunbean has been without question the top Louisiana-bred in training and successfully moved out into open company Saturday to win the $100,000 Evangeline Mile. Pacesetter Pushingonastring out-finished Grand Contender for the place spot, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Trained by Ron Faucheux and owned by Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable, Sunbean followed in the steps of another Brittlyn runner, Star Guitar, and completed the Louisiana Legends-Evangeline Mile Double, having won the Classic last month against fellow statebreds. It was a feat that Star Guitar accomplished three consecutive years beginning in 2010.

Regular rider Richard Eramia was content to stalk the leisurely fractions set by Pushingonastring of 24.82 seconds and 49.35 with Grand Contender applying pressure. Eramia eased Sunbean ($4.00) closer exiting the final turn before engaging the two leaders nearing the furlong grounds. Under steady handling, the winner stopped the timer in 1:37.33 over a fast track.

Sunbean, a 4-year-old gelded son of Brahms, won for the 10th time in 15 starts. The $60,000 winner’s share pushed his career earnings to just shy of $695,000.

In the $100,000 Opelousas for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, local veteran Gerard Melancon timed a six-wide move around traffic perfectly entering the straight and got Malibu Yankee up in time. Sister Ginger finished a neck back, and it was another neck back to longshot Synapse. The final time was 1:45.00 over firm going.

Malibu Yankee ($11.40) is trained by Tom Amoss for Jerry Namy. The Malibu Moon filly picked up her sixth career victory from 20 starts and has now earned $238,000.

In the $70,000 Lafayette for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, Louisiana Flyboy ($5.20) circled the field six wide in impressive fashion and rallied from last to first to win going away. He was ridden by Eramia and is trained by Pat Mouton. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus won for the second time and for the first time in stakes company. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.60.

In the Acadiana Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies, Off Cycle stalked the pace under Eramia and kicked clear by 2 3/4 lengths. She is trained by Faucheux and is a daughter of Harborage. The victory also was her first stakes tally but her seventh overall from 15 starts.