Ten stakes on program total $720K

Calista Ridge puts her four-race win streak on the line Saturday night in the $75,000 J. Archie Sebastien Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs. The Sebastien is for fillies and mares and is the first of 10 stakes for Louisiana-breds worth a combined $720,000 on Louisiana Legends Night. It will go as the third race on the program, following an early daily double of two Louisiana-bred maiden special weight races. First race post time is 6:40 p.m. Central.

Following a second-place finish in allowance company in early January at the winter meeting here, Calista Ridge marched quickly through her conditions, making short work of first- and second-level allowance foes before making her stakes debut in the $50,000 Evangeline Ladies Stakes in late March. She took her customary spot up front in the Evangeline Ladies and stayed on well to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths. She returned to action at Louisiana Downs on

June 17 and won the $50,000 Seven Stars Stakes in similar fashion. Trained by Noral Tate, Calista Ridge will be ridden by Ricky Faul.

The primary threat to Calista Ridge appears to be Blueyed Lass. Trained by Al Stall Jr. for owner Vickie Krantz, Blueyed Lass has won 3 of her 7 starts, including a third-level allowance race here in February. Veteran C.J. Woodley will ride.

Stall, Krantz, and Woodley also team up with Destiny Calls in the $75,000 Pierre LeBlanc at six furlongs. A winner of 14 of her 23 starts, Destiny Calls will be making her first start since winning the Louisiana Premier Matron here in February.

Ida Marie will be making her stakes debut in the LeBlanc and comes in with a three-race win streak. Trained by Pat Mouton, Ida Marie most recently won a third-level allowance at Louisiana Downs in early June. Mouton's brother-in-law E.J. Perrodin will ride.

Mouton will send out the one to beat in the $75,000 Frank "Buddy" Abadie for 3-year-old fillies at a mile. Hottamolly looked sensational winning the Fantasia Stakes at Louisiana Downs in her last start and also notched a pair of local wins this year. Gerard Melancon rides.

The evening's richest race is also the shortest. The five-furlong, $150,000 D. S. "Shine" Young Futurity brings together 11 2-year-olds who qualified in three trial races last month.

Trainer Steven Asmussen will send out the top two morning-line choices in the Shine. Margarita Man, unbeaten in two starts, is the 2-1 favorite, and Paljo, a 5 3/4-length winner of his qualifying heat, is listed as the second choice at 5-2.

The $75,000 Junius Delahoussaye Sprint brings together the most evenly matched group of the evening. Inalako, a two-time winner here this year and most recently second in the Need for Speed Stakes, might be a slight favorite in the deep field.

The $75,000 B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn for 3-year-old colts and geldings appears to be Costa Rising's to win or lose. Trained by Joe Boxie, Costa Rising is riding a three-race win streak. Regular rider Mario Reyes has the call.

Older handicap performers will go 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Pola Benoit. The 10 in the race have collectively earned close to $3 million and the field is headed by veterans Witt Ante and Spritely Walker.