Turning back could help Imma Bling turn the tables

Imma Bling will attempt to turn the tables on Oil Money when the multiple stakes winners meet in Thursday night’s eighth race at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La.

The pair will clash at five furlongs on the main track in a conditioned allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds and up. A field of seven is set to start, including stakes winner Win Lion Win.

Imma Bling finished second by a neck to Oil Money in the $50,000 Highland Ice at Will Rogers Downs when the horses met April 7. The start came over six furlongs and shortening up in distance Thursday might be an advantage for Imma Bling.

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“Five-eighths is his preferred distance,” said Karl Broberg, who trains Imma Bling for End Zone Athletics. “He’d rather be on the grass, but there weren’t any spots.

“We were hoping to fall into a softer race. It came up tougher than I thought.”

Oil Money, who is a four-time stakes winner, earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for his win in the Highland Ice. He is getting back on dirt Thursday after running fifth in a turf allowance June 6 at Evangeline. It was just his second out on the grass. Before that race, Oil Money was second in an overnight handicap May 6 at Will Rogers Downs.

Ty Kennedy has the mount on the speed horse from post 5.

Robertino Diodoro trains Oil Money, a son of J P’s Gusto who races for Charles Garvey.

Timothy Thornton has the mount on the rail-drawn Imma Bling. The two-time stakes winner exits a runner-up finish in the $75,000 Spirit of Texas at six furlongs June 14 at Lone Star Park. He was beaten five lengths by Direct Dial, the 2018 Texas-bred of the year who runs back Sunday in the $75,000 Wayne Hanks over 6 1/2 furlongs at Lone Star.

Win Lion Win also will get support Thursday. He overtook Oil Money to win the local turf allowance June 6. He’s back on dirt and has registered five of his 11 wins on the main track, including three at Evangeline. Gerard Melancon has the mount on Win Lion Win, who is a full brother to Heavy On Themister, a three-time stakes winner who earned more than $725,000.

Fields set for Legends Night

Evangeline Downs will put on its richest program of the meet Saturday, with the running of the annual Louisiana Legends Night. The nine-race card includes six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds. Each is worth $60,000, making for total stakes purses of $360,000.

The Sprint matches a number of notable runners over 5 1/2 furlongs, including Monte Man, a past Louisiana-bred of the year, and his fellow stakes winners Laughingsaintssong and Double Barrel Man.

Shang, who won last year’s Cheval on Legends Night, makes a rare appearance on the grass for the Turf. In his lone race on the surface, he was second in the Dixie Poker Ace at this mile distance in February at Fair Grounds.

Southern Liasion, who is undefeated in there starts, makes her stakes and two-turn debut in the Soiree, where she will meet multiple stakes winner Vacherie Girl.

First post is 5:50 p.m. Central.

◗ Agent Bill Castle said he has returned to New York because he will be representing David Cohen at Saratoga. Castle currently represents the Southwest-based riders Ramon Vazquez and Roberto Morales.