Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Landry likes his chances on Louisiana Legends Night
Trainer Allen Landry had a stakes double on Louisiana Champions Day last December, and both of his winners, Laughingsaintssong and Net a Bear, will see action on Saturday night’s Louisiana Legends program at Evangeline Downs.
Laughingsaintssong won the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds, and Net a Bear captured the card’s Ladies Turf.
“That was a great day,” Landry said.
He could have more to celebrate with Laughingsaintssong in the Louisiana Legends Sprint and Net a Bear in the Turf Distaff. The races are among the card’s six divisional stakes offerings for Louisianabreds, with each worth $60,000. The program is the richest of the meet.
Laughingsaintssong was a length winner of the Champions Day Sprint, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 97 he earned is the best number of his career. He will be shortening up a tad from six furlongs to 5 1/2 for the nine-horse Sprint, and he is a winner at the distance at Evangeline. Timothy Thornton has the mount from post 9.
“I love the outside post position,” said Landry, who trains Laughingsaintssong for Rodney Verret. “That’s his place. That’s where he wants to be.”
The start will be the first since Feb. 25 for Laughingsaintssong, who was second by a neck in an optional $35,000 claiming race with allowance conditions at Evangeline. He set a quick pace after breaking from the rail and was caught late. The ensuing time away from the races – due to the coronavirus pandemic – has suited Laughingsaintssong, Landry said.
“It did him a lot of good,” he said. “And he runs good fresh.”
The field also includes Monte Man, the 2018 Louisiana-bred of the year looking for his third straight win in the Louisiana Legends Sprint, and Double Barrel Man, winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint in February at Delta Downs.
Net a Bear will be looking for the fourth stakes win of her young career when she starts in the Turf Distaff at a mile. The 4-year-old by Awesome Bet won the $60,000 Red Camelia at the distance on turf in her last start March 14 at Fair Grounds.
“She’s matured a lot, has just been getting better all along,” Landry said.
“We’ll try to beat the weather – hope it holds off and stays on the grass.”
The Weather Channel forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms, along with a high of 91 degrees and a low of 74.
“We’re going to run regardless,” Landry said. “She still runs pretty good on the dirt. She prefers the grass.”
Net a Bear is 3 for 4 on turf, with those three victories coming in stakes. She has an additional win on dirt. Net a Bear will break from post 5 under Thornton.
“She comes from way off the pace,” Landry said.
Net a Bear races for Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro.
Others set to start in the fivehorse Turf Distaff include Is Too, winner of the Louisiana Cup Distaff last August at Louisiana Downs, and Mariah’s Galaxy, winner of the Louisiana Premier Night Distaff in February at Delta.
Landry has two other stakes starters on the card. Saints N Muskets makes her stakes debut against the talented Our Lost Love in the Mademoiselle for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. Saints N Muskets is a half-sister of Laughingsaintssong, who also races for Verret.
Landry’s final stakes starter is Storied Trip in the Soiree for 3-year-old fillies at a mile. She’s part of a field of eight led by multiple stakes winner Vacherie Girl and the undefeated Southern Liaison.
Southern Liaison will be making both her stakes and two-turn debut after winning the first three starts of her career dating back to a maiden special weight Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds. She also won an entry-level allowance at the track in March, then won a second-level allowance June 13 at Evangeline Downs.
“Every time we take her over there she impresses us a little bit more,” trainer Sam David Jr. said. “The first time, she ran a huge race to get up and win, and she ran a little better the second time. The race here at Evangeline, she ran a great race, came running late.
“I’m hoping she’ll get the mile.”
Southern Liaison races for her breeders, Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez, and John Duvieilh. She will break from post 5 under Thornton.
“I’m sure she’ll lay a little closer,” David said of stretching out.
David and Thornton will team with recent allowance winner Jax Man in the Cheval for 3-year-olds at a mile. He’s part of a field of six led by Relentless Dancer, who makes just his second start against Louisiana-breds. In his first, he won the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy by 10 1/2 lengths last October at Delta.
Shang makes a rare appearance on the grass in the Louisiana Legends Turf, which drew nine older horses. In his lone start on turf, he was second at this mile distance in the Dixie Poker Ace on Feb. 25 at Fair Grounds. Shang’s rivals include multiple stakes winner In the Navy.