On Saturday, Evangeline Downs hosted the 8th annual Louisiana Legends Night, a series of 8 stakes races for Louisiana-breds. Conditions were excellent at the Opelousas, LA oval, with clear skies and temperatures in the 80's.
The highlight race of the night was the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic, for older horses going 1 1/16 miles. Star Guitar, winner of the last three Legends Classics and the all-time leading Louisiana-bred earner, was sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the field of 5 over 6-5 Get In Da House and 10-1 Productive Envoy. Productive Envoy was sent to the lead by jockey Richard Eramia through fractions of 24.27, 48.92, and 1:13.43 while stalked by 12-1 Heavy on Themister. Entering the stretch, Productive Envoy tired allowing Heavy on Themister to inherit the lead through 1 mile in 1:37.55, but Star Guitar, 3rd early, responded when asked and easily took command late to win by 3/4 length in a new track record time of 1:43.71 over the fast track. It was another length back to Get In Da House third.
Winning jockey Gerard Melancon said, "This horse is like riding a sports car, he has so many gears. I kept asking him in the stretch and he kept giving me more and was really striding out in the end. He beat a couple of good horses tonight and he is just a fun horse to ride."
Trainer Al Stall Jr. added, "It's turned into a situation where it becomes such an event when he runs, for us at least. The expectations get so high I find myself getting little more nervous than I used to. But he always delivers."
Results Chart from Daily Racing Form
