Opelousas, Louisiana-Upset after upset led by the $103.80 shocker by Pinecrest Boy in the B. B. “Sixty” Rayburn Stakes tested the mettle of even the most hardened of handicappers as the betting favorite in twelve of the thirteen races (including seven at odds of even-money or less) went down to defeat on the Legends Night III program at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino on Saturday evening.

On paper most of the eleven stakes races for Louisiana breds figured to be coronations for many of the probable divisional champions, but the full moon and the fickle hand of fate had other ideas. The D. S. “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity, run every year that Evangeline Downs has been in existence, was split into two divisions for the first time, a colts & geldings event and a filly event. Honour Thy Lover ($19.20), a colt by the talented sprinter Honour and Glory, defeated stablemates Jumpin for Jason and Must Acquit (part of a three-horse Heiligbrodt Racing Stable owned entry that was 1/5 in the betting, the biggest favorite of the night) to win the $131,125 colts & geldings division, the richest race of the night. The victory, worth $78,677, was the second in three career starts for the Doris Hebert trainee. Co-owned by Hebert with breeder Louis Smith, Honour Thy Glory was able to turn the tables on Must Acquit who defeated him by 2 π lengths in their trial three weeks ago. Said Hebert “We’ve always been very high on this colt, after his trial we had him scoped and his lungs were found to be full of mucus, we treated him and he responded well and actually trained better than ever going into tonight’s race.” The final running time for the five furlongs on a track labeled fast was 59 2/5ths.

Winning jockey Steve Bourque recorded his third “Shine” victory, capturing editions in the 1990’s aboard Hail the Bag and Demon’s Revenge. Bourque had this to say the victory “this guy is one fast son of a gun, he broke on top and made the lead rather easily, I was able to get him to relax and give him a breather on the turn. When I set him down at the top of the stretch he gave me his all and I knew tonight was our night.”

West Coast Time chased the winner throughout before finishing 4th, a neck behind Jumpin for Jason and Must Acquit. Cubera, the other entrant from the Heligbrodt Racing Stables finished 5th, with Ide Like a Double, Buster Hut, Delta Angel, Freefromthebox, and Big Erl rounding out the complete order of finish.

The filly division of the “Shine” was worth $130,025 and Swifty Victress ($21.00) held off stablemates Hisse & Iknowuthinkimsexy to record a front-running 1 π length victory under jockey Sylvester Carmouche Jr. Purchased for the bargain basement price of $4,200 at the John Franks Memorial Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale in March by trainer Anthony Agilar for owner A. Philip Henderson, Swifty Victress earned $78,017 for the victory, the second in three starts for the daughter of Macho Uno. Out of the Lite the Fuse mare Caught Fire, Swifty Victress was bred in Louisiana by L P Cormier. Countess Noel checked in 4th, 3 π lengths behind the winner and 3 lengths in front of Escrito’s Stage. Tibbytyme finished sixth, followed by Ide Better Run in seventh. Peachsfromthegitgo, Louisiana Jazz, Biduadeau, and Stackin Chips completed the order of finish. The running time was 59 4/5ths for the five furlongs.

While they were the richest races on the night, the “Shine” divisions were only two of a total of eleven stakes races restricted to Louisiana Breds on the Louisiana Legends Night III racing program. In addition to the “Shine” divisions, the first ever million-dollar purse night at Evangeline Downs featured four races worth $100,000, two races worth $75,000, and three starter stakes worth $45,000 each on a night that honored individuals and their families who made a positive impact on Louisiana Racing.

Pinecrest Boy ($103.80) stunned the crowd with his half-dozen length victory over St. Zarb in the $75,000 B. B. “Sixty” Rayburn Stakes for three-year-olds at one mile under jockey Kirk LeBlanc. Making his first start since finishing fifth in a $20,000 claiming event in which he was claimed by owner/trainer Rusty McKean Jr., the gelded son of Wire Me Collect charged past the multiple stakes winning favorite with ease and drew clear under mild urging. St. Zarb, whose only loss in his last six starts came in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Arkansas Derby Day, offered no response to the winner after getting a perfect stalking trip under jockey Carlos Gonzalez. Heelbolt outfinished Jeff T. and Switch Grass Gas for the show spot.

Leesa Lee ($11.00) collared pacesetter and odds/on favorite Indigo Girl in the final 70 yards under E. J. Perrodin to win the $100,000 Pierre LeBlanc Memorial for fillies & mares three-year-olds and up sprinting 5 π furlongs. Racing in mid-pack while Indigo Girl led uncontested thru early fractions of 21 4/5 & 45 4/5, Leesa Lee gradually moved into a striking position before wearing down the public’s choice to win going away by 1 π lengths in the time of 1:04 4/5ths. The daughter of Leestown is trained by Patrick Mouton and owned by Larry Campagna and earned $60,000 for her sixth career win from nineteen starts. Longshots Cutie Sabrina and Sammie Sam rounded out the top four and Queezee Deezee and Carson City Babe were scratched.

Jerry Hardin and Dwight Fugate’s Ahead of Her Time ($8.60) remained undefeated after her resounding win in the $75,000 Frank A. “Buddy” Abadie Memorial for three-year-old fillies at the distance of one mile. Racing around two turns and at Evangeline Downs for the first time proved no obstacle for the daughter of Leestown who powered away from her nine rivals in the stretch en route to the biggest winning margin of the night, 12 ≤ lengths. Trained by co-owner Hardin and ridden by John Jacinto, Ahead of Her Time is now a perfect 4-for-4 after covering the distance in 1:39 2/5ths. Many Moons finished 2nd, well clear of Prestons Star, who edged out pacesetter Creole Lady for third. Mi Isabella, a winner of back-to-back stakes races and three-in-a-row, was never a factor finishing sixth, more than 26 lengths behind the winner.

Chalk players finally had a reason to smile after Cort’s P. B. ($3.40) repeated in the $100,000 Junius Delahoussaye Memorial for three-year-olds and up sprinting 5 π furlongs. A one-time $10,000 claimer who has become a multiple stakes winner since being claimed for $40,000 last fall by owner Maggi Moss and trainer Patrick Mouton, Cort’s P. B. recorded his third consecutive win and fourth of the year with his 1 π length victory over Magic Sunset. Ridden by E. J. Perrodin, Cort’s P. B. tracked early pacesetters Chocolate Warrior and Mr. Barracuda thru fractions of 21 4/5 and 45 4/5, before taking command at the top of the stretch and then holding off the late bids of Magic Sunset and Fass Feat. The final running time was 1:04 2/5ths.

Speeding away from her rivals right from the start, the much improved Madison’s Music ($4.60) notched her fourth consecutive win and sixth in seven starts since being place in the care of conditioner Keith Bourgeois in the $100,000 J. Archie Sebastien Memorial for fillies and mares at the distance of one mile and 70 yards. After finishing 9th, beaten more than 30 lengths in a $12,500 claiming race, the now six-year-old daughter of Prospector’s Music has earned more than $170,000 for her lessee Marvin Boudreaux. Ridden by regular rider Kirk LeBlanc, Madison’s Music won by more than eleven lengths and stopped the clock in 1:42 2/5ths, just 2/5th’s of a second off the track record after leading thru early fractions of 23 3/5, 47 1/5, and 1:11 4/5. Punchy Louise rallied past race favorite Raspberry Wine in the stretch to earn the runner-up spot in a scratch depleted field of six. Cutie Sabrina was an early scratch and Carl’s Frosty Girl was scratched after being injured in the paddock.

In the night’s final event, the $100,000 Pola Benoit Memorial Stakes for four-year-olds and up, Grand Minit($14.00) provided a fitting end to the program as he charged past odds/on favorite Costa Rising in the upper stretch and then held off the late rally of Diggy Fresh to win by 2 π lengths under jockey Curt Bourque covering the 1 1/16th miles in 1:46. Costa Rising, bet down to odds of 1/2 despite making his first start since winning the La. Premiere Night Championship at Delta Downs in early February, had no response in the stretch after tracking early pacesetter J D Man thru fractions of 23 1/5, 47, and 1:12 1/5 and just held on for third over Liquid Silver. Owned and bred by the Brittlyn Stable and trained by Al Stall Jr., Grand Minit earned $60,000 for his fourth career victory from 16 starts.

Three $45,000 Starter Stakes rounded out the historic program for state breds. The Mervin Muniz Memorial was captured by Tiger Monarch ($6.20) under jockey Carlos Gonzalez. Kerwin Clark started the evening off with wins in both the Gene Norman Memorial & the Attaway Darbonne Memorial aboard Kookie Storm ($5.80) and Buildakiss ($22.20) respectively.

Racing continues on a four-evening a week schedule, Wednesday thru Saturday, with a first post of 6:20 p.m. Central.

For more information contact Evangeline Downs at 337-594-3000.