Win streaks at risk on Louisiana Legends Night

Tigerstorm and Mr. Al’s Gal will bring win streaks into Saturday night’s Louisiana Legends program at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. The card features six divisional stakes races for Louisiana-breds, each worth $100,000.

Tigerstorm will be shooting for his fourth straight win when he starts in the Cheval. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds drew a field of 10. Tigerstorm will be making his two-turn debut off a win at seven furlongs in the $50,000 Lafayette on June 3 at Evangeline.

“I think he can get the mile okay,” said trainer Jim Hodges. “He got the seven-eighths all right. It depends on the competition. It depends on how tough it is.

“He’ll have to step up and run big to win.”

Gerard Melancon has the mount from the rail.

The Cheval field is a deep one. Underpressure invades from Churchill Downs, where he ran second in an optional $75,000 claiming race in his last start June 4. Magic Vow comes off a 4 3/4-length win in the $60,000 Equine Sales Derby at Evangeline. Bending Saint earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87 last out for an allowance win at Lone Star Park.

Richard Eramia will be aboard Mr. Al’s Gal, who will be going for her sixth straight win when she starts in the Soiree. The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies drew a field of 10.

Mr. Al’s Gal will be moving back to the main track and two turns off a turf-sprint win at Louisiana Downs. Her last stakes win, the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks, came around two turns on dirt at Fair Grounds.

The Louisiana Legends stakes begin in the fourth race with the Distaff. Pacific Pink will be going for her third consecutive win when she starts in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. She exits a 2 3/4-length win in the $74,000 Spotted Horse over open company June 2 at Evangeline.

The main event is the Classic, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that goes as the ninth on a 10-race card. The field from the rail: Grande Basin, Sir Genghis, Tee Brown, Mageez, Classy Bird, Fort Pulaski, Southern Argument, Just Stormin, and Social Misfit.

Thirteen were entered for the Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs, with 12 allowed to run, including Jockamo’s Song, who invades from Laurel for trainer Michael Stidham.

The Mademoiselle drew eight female sprinters, including the stakes winner Look Into My Eyes and the Tom Amoss trainee Ramona’s Wildcat.

The Turf is not being run on this card like in years past because Evangeline is off the turf for the meet. The program starts at 5:25 p.m. Central. The stakes will run consecutively through the ninth race.

◗ Evangeline’s sister track, Delta Downs in Vinton, La., will put on seven stakes for Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses on Saturday night, led by the $705,495 Lee Berwick Futurity and the $267,150 Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby. The races close out the meet.

◗ College scholarships will be awarded Saturday at both Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will hold drawings for two $1,000 scholarships between the fifth and sixth races at Evangeline. The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association will hold drawings for two $2,000 scholarships after the sixth race at Delta. The LQHBA also will donate a $5,000 check to the Acadiana affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

◗ Two Steppin’ Star, a 2-year-old colt out of the mare Two Steppin’ Toni, who won nine stakes and earned $390,618, debuts in the first race Wednesday at Louisiana Downs. The son of Five Star Day will break from post 2 in the maiden special weight for Louisiana-breds.