Top Louisiana-bred Star Guitar will follow his usual summer schedule June 30, bidding for a fourth consecutive victory in the $100,000 Legends Night Classic at Evangeline Downs.
The 7-year-old son of Quiet American has not missed a beat in preparation for the eighth annual Legends Night and a race that has had his name on it for the past three years.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. gave Star Guitar plenty of time between starts; he hasn’t raced since winning the April 1 Southern Oaks Plantation Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds. But the bay horse has been active in the mornings, recording several solid workouts over the past 30 days including a sharp five-furlong drill in 1:00 June 17 and a four-furlong work in :49 1/5 June 24. He carries a nine-race win streak into the Classic, unbeaten since winning the Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds in December of 2010.
Stall has sent homebred Star Guitar to victory in 23 of 29 starts for owner Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable since he broke his maiden first time out at Fair Grounds as a 2-year-old in November of 2007. Out of the Malagra mare Minit Towinit, Star Guitar has earned more than $1.6 million against mostly state-bred company and is the richest Louisiana-bred in history.
Regular jockey Corey Lanerie, who has ridden Star Guitar in the majority of his races over the past two seasons, will not be aboard for this year’s Classic as he is scheduled to remain at Churchill Downs where he is the current leading rider. Veteran jockey Gerard Melancon, approaching his 4,000th career victory, will replace him. Melancon rode the runner to victory in last year’s Evangeline Mile.
Only four will take on the champion, a three-time Louisiana Horse of the Year. He has been installed as the 3-5 favorite on the morning line.
In addition to the Classic, seven other stakes are included on the Louisiana Legends Night program; six offer a purse of $100,000. These include the Distaff, Turf, Sprint, Colts & Geldings Mile, Fillies Mile, and the Ladies Sprint.
$100,000 Louisiana Legends Night Classic (Race 10, approximate post 9:25 p.m. CT), LA-bred 3yos & up, 1 1/16 miles
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1.Get in Da House (LA), M. Guidry, 120, W E Hawley , 5-2
2. Up and Out of Site (LA), D. Saenz, 118, J K Desormeaux, 15-1
3. Heavy On Themister (LA), T. J. Hebert, 118, S M David, 6-1
4. Star Guitar (LA), G. Melancon, 123, A M Stall, Jr., 3-5
5. Productive Envoy (LA), R. E. Eramia, 118, T J Richey, 8-1
