LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT AT EVANGELINE DOWNS ON JULY 4
SIX $60,000 STAKES FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS HIGHLIGHT THE 10-RACE PROGRAM
OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs is hosting its annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbred this Saturday night with six $60,000 stakes races making up Louisiana Legends Night. It promises to be an exciting evening of racing and a delicious night of dining as several local-area food trucks will be on hand to provide the crowd with a variety of menu options.
The first stakes race of the night will be the $60,000 Cheval for 3-year-olds at one mile. The field of six is led by the 8-5 morning-line favorite, Relentless Dancer. The colt has won just one stakes race in his brief career, the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy at Delta Downs, but he also finished fourth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park behind Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner, Tiz The Law. Additionally, he ran fifth in the Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream behind the Belmont runner-up, Dr. Post. Gerard Melancon will have the ride on Relentless Dancer for trainer Mike Maker.
The $60,000 Turf Distaff at one mile for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up will feature a field of five with Net A Bear installed as the 8-5 morning-line choice. The Allen Landry trainee scored a win in the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes at Fair Grounds in her last start on March 14. Tim Thornton will ride on Saturday. Is Too is the 9-5 second choice and she was the runner-up in that Red Camelia Stakes. She also was the runner-up in the 2019 Turf Distaff at Evangeline Downs before scoring a win in the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes on July 12 last year over the main track. Diego Saenz will ride Is Too for trainer Edward Johnston.
The most competitive stakes race on the program could be the $60,000 Mademoiselle at 5-1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. A field of 10 will go to the post with Our Lost Love as a lukewarm 3-1 morning-line favorite. She has won two stakes races in her last three performances, the $100,000-added Louisiana Futurity at Fair Grounds on December 29 and the $76,300 Take Charge Brandi at Delta Downs on February 28. Carlos Lozada will be in the saddle on Saturday night for trainer Joey Foster.
The $60,000 Turf at one mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up features a very strong top pair of favorites with Shang at 5-2 and Mageez at 7-2 on the morning-line. Shang is a Steve Asmussen-trained colt that won the 2019 Cheval as a 3-year-old at Evangeline Downs. He has won just one of five races since that victory, but also has been the runner-up in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows and the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace Stakes at Fair Grounds. Mageez is the defending champion in the Louisiana Legends Turf and has won twice more since that victory, including last time out in an Allowance/Optional Claiming race at Evangeline Downs on June 10.
The story of the $60,000 Sprint is the attempt at a three-peat in the race for the 5-2 morning-line favorite, Monte Man. The 7-year-old gelding drew the rail in a field of nine for the 5-1/2 furlongs race for 3-year-olds and up. Gerard Melancon will be in the saddle for trainer Ron Faucheux on Saturday night, as he has been for the two preceding Sprint wins for Monte Man. Monte Man has already won two of four starts in 2020, including the $75,000 Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 21.
The $60,000 Soiree for 3-year-old fillies at one mile features a field of eight headlined by the 8-5 morning-line favorite, Vacherie Girl. She has won three of five lifetime starts, including two stakes at Fair Grounds, the $100,000 Lassie on Louisiana Champions Day on December 14 and the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks on March 21. Joel Dominguez will be in the saddle for trainer Steve Asmussen on Saturday night.
Evangeline Downs will also be presenting exciting food options on Louisiana Legends Night with three food trucks available in the patio area near the saddling paddock. Fans can get sno-cones from Kona Ice, barbecue food from Ohh Taste and See and Cajun delicacies from Cest Bon Manger. Tamales Cinco de Mayo will also be serving authentic Mexican cuisine from the patio counter and Mojo’s Sports Bar will be open on Saturday night, where fans can not only order drinks, but also place wagers and watch the races. Fans must be 21 or older to enter Mojo’s, but families are welcome to attend the races and enjoy the other dining options offered on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.
Post time on Saturday night will be 5:50 pm Central Time. All fans entering the building at Evangeline Downs will be required to have temperature checks and the racetrack is encouraging patrons to practice correct social distancing measures while they are visiting Evangeline Downs.