Trainer Allen Landry saddled the winners of three of the six stakes making up the annual Louisiana Cup card at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, with He’s Just Lucky taking the $75,000 Sprint, Six String wiring the $75,000 Filly and Mare Sprint, and Two Good Old Guys dominating the $75,000 Juvenile.
The races were all restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. They were run on a fast main track. The turf races were moved to the dirt due to wet weather.
He’s Just Lucky ($5.40) tracked fractions of 22.52 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.50 for the half-mile in the Sprint before going on to cover six furlongs in 1:09.55.
Jansen Melancon was aboard He’s Just Lucky, which was his first of three stakes wins on the card Saturday.
He’s Just Lucky won by 4 1/2 lengths over El Dinero. The winner races for Baronne Farms.
He’s Just Lucky is by Breaking Lucky and won his third straight race behind the Louisiana Legends Sprint and an allowance, both at Evangeline Downs.
Six String ($3.40) set the pace for a 2 1/2-length win over Magnolia Avenue in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The winner put up fractions of 22.69 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.58 for the half-mile before going on to cover six furlongs in 1:11.43.
Colby Hernandez was aboard the winner for World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing. Six String is a daughter of Star Guitar.
Two Good Old Guys ($33.20) won the Juvenile by 5 3/4 lengths over 4-5 favorite Mor Force. He covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.79. Melancon was aboard Larry Romero, who co-owns the son of Thousand Words with Landry.
Melancon’s other winner on the card came aboard Gangster Flash ($7.20), who won her second consecutive stakes race in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies. She put in a determined stretch bid to catch Fly Strong and go on to a 1 1/4-length win over that one. Gangster Flash covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.66. The daughter of Instagrand races for Alfred Romito and is trained by Jason Faul.
Rising Inflation takes Distaff
Rising Inflation ($2.80) came back in the stretch for a half-length win over Norah G in the $75,000 Distaff. She has now won her last three starts by a combined margin of more than 30 lengths.
Highly Wicked, who has won five turf stakes in her last five starts, was scratched from the race that was moved from turf to dirt.
Rising Inflation sat off the pace set by Norah G, who took the field through an opening quarter in 24.97 seconds, a half-mile in 49.18 and six furlongs in 1:13.76. The winner went on to cover the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.38.
Isaac Castillo was aboard Rising Inflation, a daughter of Mitole trained by Jonathan Wong. She races for the partnership of Rose Mark, Slam Dunk Racing and Dennis Bailey.
*Good and Stout ($17.20) fought for a neck win over Allnight Moonlight in the $75,000 Classic. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.23. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. was aboard the son of Coal front For Whispering Oaks Farm and trainer Carrol Castille.
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