Underpressure, Melancon form potent team in Evangeline Downs Classic

Underpressure and jockey Gerard Melancon will be looking to win their sixth straight race together when they are reunited for Saturday night’s $60,000 Evangeline Downs Classic.

The mile stakes is for 4-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana. The field of eight includes Pound for Pound, the probable favorite off back-to-back wins for which he earned strong Beyer Speed Figures, and fellow stakes winners Grand Luwegee and Mageez.

Underpressure and Melancon – who was nine wins from a milestone of 5,000 heading into the races Thursday – were first teamed together in December 2016 at Delta Downs.

“When we would ship in from Oaklawn, Gerard would pretty much ride everything that we shipped,” said Chris Richard, who trains Underpressure. “He’s ridden Underpressure since he was a 2-year-old, won his second start on him. He’s now 7. They complement each other really well. Gerard knows everything about him.”

Melancon will be back on Underpressure for the first time since February, when the horse won the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Championship at Delta Downs. Following the start, Underpressure was a troubled fifth in the Star Guitar for Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds in March and sixth to Grade 3 winner Plainsman when facing open company in an Oaklawn allowance in April.

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Through the years, Underpressure and Melancon have teamed together nine times and won six races. Their current streak started in April 2019, when they captured the Evangeline Downs Classic. From there, Underpressure and Melancon teamed to win a Delta allowance in November 2019 and a pair of Delta stakes races in February 2020.

“Underpressure is definitely the best Louisiana-bred I’ve been on,” Melancon said of the earner of nearly $900,000. “The last quarter-mile, he gives you everything he’s got. He’s a very special horse.”

Underpressure will start from post 8 for the Evangeline Downs Classic. He is 2 for 2 over the local main track. The horse races for Richard’s wife, Mallory Richard.

Pound for Pound won the Star Guitar by a length and earned a Beyer of 86. One start later, he defeated open company in a Delta allowance at a mile on April 15. For the effort, Pound for Pound earned a Beyer of 83, which is the best last-race number in the field Saturday.

Aubrie Green, who was aboard for both wins, has the mount from post 3 for Israel Flores Horses and trainer Andrea Ali.