Month: June 2016

JOCKEY GERARD MELANCON SCORES CAREER WIN #4,500

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OPELOUSAS, LA- Jockey Gerard Melancon became the 44th rider to reach 4,500 wins in his career on Thursdaynight at Evangeline Downs with a victory in the fourth race aboard Bad Behavior. Melancon had the gelding in contention right from the start of the race and, in fact, had a speed duel with his son, Jansen, who was riding Sonofaguska. The twosome covered the quarter-mile in 22.73 seconds and the half-mile in 45.87 seconds. After putting away Sonofaguska, Bad Behavior withstood a challenge from Jax Be Quick to draw off and win by 2 ½-lengths in a final time of 1:25.04 for seven furlongs.

Bad Behavior was bred in Kentucky by Hal Earnhardt. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by Robert Asaro Enterprises Inc. and trained by Ron Faucheux. He is by two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute, out of the Pioneering mare, Behaving Badly.

Melancon began his career in 1984 at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. He recorded his first victory at that racetrack aboard Dash And Cash for trainer Manuel Robin, who Melancon credits for giving him his start in the Thoroughbred business. Melancon’s mounts have made over $76,000,000 in career earnings from his more than 29,000 starts.

Melancon considers his victory in the 2004 Grade 2 $500,000 Super Derby to be among his most memorable trips to the winner’s circle. He had always dreamt of winning that race since his idol, Laffit Pincay, Jr., was able to win it aboard Sunny’s Halo in 1983.

Melancon is also one of just two jockeys to win the Grade 3 $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot on two different occasions. Melancon won the Jackpot in 2011 on Sabercat and in 2013 on Rise Up.

For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website atwww.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

Equine Sales Company Sets October 16 Date for Open Yearling and Mixed Sale

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Equine Sales Company has announced that its annual Open Yearling and Mixed Sale will be held Sunday, October 16, in Opelousas, Louisiana.
            Last year’s Open Yearling and Mixed Sale was topped by a daughter of Touch Gold named Love You Crazy, who sold in foal to Uncle Mo. The mare sold for $55,000 to Chris and Lynne Boutte’s Boutte Training from Roger Daly, agent.
            “The fact that we had a mare in foal to a promising young stallion like Uncle Mo last year shows how the quality of this sale has improved in just a few short years here,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “We anticipate another strong offering this year.”
            Yearling and weanling graduates of this sale will be eligible for the $75,000 Equine Sales Derby and $75,000 Equine Sales Oaks to be run at Evangeline Downs. The two-turn races were run for the first time this May.
            Prior to the Open Yearling and Mixed Sale, Equine Sales Company will conduct its Consignor Select Yearling Sale on September 7.
            For more information on either sale, go to www.equinesalesofla.com.

 

EXTRA CREDIT AND SIR GENGHIS SCORE SATURDAY STAKES WINS

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Lafayette S.
June 4, 2016, Evangeline Downs
7 furlongs, for Louisiana-bred 3-Year-Olds, $70,000

EXTRA CREDIT
Proud Citizen-Sunny Isles, by Stormy Atlantic
Breeder:   Richard Klein and Bertram Klein
Owner:  Richard and Bertram Klein
Trainer:  Brad H. Cox
Jockey:  C.J. Hernandez

Time: 1:23.99
Margins: 3/4,  hd,  3 1/2

2nd:  Mageez

3rd:  Dr. Zipcity

 


Need For Speed S.
June 4, 2016, Evangeline Downs
5 furlongs, for 3-Year-Old and Upwards, $60,000

SIR GENGHIS
Tale of the Cat-Staria, by Unbridled’s Song
Breeder:   Randel Stutes
Owner:  Gillian and Kirk L. Harris
Trainer:  Chad Pitzer
Jockey:  K. D. Clark

Time:  :57.83
Margins:  2 1/2,  hd,  hd

2nd:  Win Lion Win

3rd:  Tiz Cherry Wine

Accredited Louisiana-breds won two stakes races on the Saturday night program at Evangeline Downs. The $70,000 Lafayette Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds and the $60,000 Need For Speed at five furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. The Need For Speed was originally scheduled for the turf, but was moved to the sloppy main track after heavy rains throughout the day.

Extra Credit, the 9-5 betting favorite, scored the victory in the Lafayette Stakes under jockey Colby Hernandez. Extra Credit had to angle off the rail after sitting in mid-pack early on in the race. Once he got clear running room, Extra Credit took the lead in the stretch, but had to hold off closers Mageez and Dr. Zipcity to preserve the victory. Extra Credit finished the seven furlongs in a final time of 1:23.99. He is owned and was bred in Louisiana by Richard and Bertram Klein and trained by Brad Cox. Extra Credit is a 3-year-old colt by Proud Citizen, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare, Sunny Isles.

The Need For Speed Stakes was a front-running victory for Sir Genghis. He took the lead shortly after the break and never looked back, rolling to a 2 ½-length victory under the ride of veteran jockey, Kerwin Clark. Sir Genghis covered the five-furlong distance in a final time of 57.83 seconds. He is owned by Gillian and Kirk Harris and trained by Chad Pitzer. Sir Genghis is a 5-year-old gelding by Tale of the Cat, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare, Staria.

For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website atwww.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

 

Sunny Oak, Look Into My Eyes Win Friday stakes at EVD

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Acadiana S.June 3, 2016, Evangeline Downs
7 furlongs, for Louisiana-bred 3-Year-Old Fillies, $70,000

SUNNY OAK
Giant Oak-Heckuva Time, by Gilded Time
Breeder:   Jeff Wahman & Darlene Wahman
Owner:  Keith Plaisance
Trainer:  Edward Johnston
Jockey: D. Saenz

Time: 1:23.67
Margins: 3/4,  8 3/4,  nk

2nd: Believe In Bertie

3rd: Calamity Jane

 

Tellike S.
June 3, 2016, Evangeline Downs
5 furlongs, for 3-Year-Old and Upwards Fillies and Mares, $60,000

LOOK INTO MY EYES
City Zip-Burnished Miss, by Wild Again
Breeder:   Robert McDowell & Bethe Deal
Owner:  Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti
Trainer:  Efren Loza, Jr.
Jockey: E. Nieves

Time:  :57.99
Margins:  2 3/4,  nk,  1 1/2

2nd: Boom Bam Bing

3rd: Diamond Cutter

There were two stakes races on the Friday, June 3, 2016 race card at Evangeline Downs, the $70,000 Acadiana for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies and the $60,000 Tellike for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up. The Tellike was taken off the turf and run at five furlongs on the sloppy main track.

Sunny Oak outdueled the post-time favorite, Believe in Bertie, to win the Acadiana Stakes under jockey Diego Saenz. That pair moved away from the remainder of the field as they battled through the stretch, with Sunny Oak prevailing by ¾-length in a final time of 1:23.67 for the seven furlongs. It was another 8 ¾-lengths back to the third-place finisher, Sunny Oak’s entry-mate, Calamity Jane. Sunny Oak is owned by Keith Plaisance and trained by Edward Johnston. She was bred in Louisiana by Jeff and Darlene Wahman.

The Tellike Stakes was won by Look Into My Eyes and jockey Emanuel Nieves. She sat at the rail in mid-pack during the early stages of the five-furlong sprint before finding running room entering the stretch. She angled out and was able to overtake the early pacesetter, 13-1 longshot Diamond Cutter, and win going away by 2 ¾-lengths in a final time of 57.99 seconds. Look Into My Eyes is owned by Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti and trained by Efren Loza, Jr. She was bred in Louisiana by Robert McDowell and Bethe Deal.

 

For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website atwww.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

LouisianaBred: Michele Rodriguez

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LouisianaBred: Michele Rodriguez
#LouisianaBred

“The incentive program is important because it rewards a horse breeding o

peration for producing quality horses for racing.”

Michele Rodriguez makes a lot of things happen for the horse industry. She has served on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association for nine years.

She resides in Folsom, Louisiana, one of the focal points for horses in the state. Her involvement with thoroughbred horses dates back to 1987.

Rodriguez entered the horse business in the 1980s when she was given one pregnant mare, then rescued an additional mare and foal. When the pregnant mare foaled, the resulting horse became her first starter.

Elite Thoroughbreds is co-owned by Rodriguez and husband Lee D. Thomas. Elite Thoroughbreds is located in a 700-acre setting of oaks and pines only an hour’s drive from the New Orleans Fairgrounds. It offers a refuge for horses from the everyday stress of the racetrack.  The facilities include a 1/2 mile racetrack, a four stall starting gate, a sixty-foot Euroexerciser, a sixty-foot round breaking pen, a swimming pond and numerous paddocks as well as six large barns complete with extra large stalls for foaling.  The staff attends to the horse’s every need during its stay on the grounds.

Michele is an attorney who owns and operates a successful title company. She is also one of the founders of the Louisiana Horse Rescue Association. She is a combination of business, passion and compassion. Michele has the biggest heart and is 100 percent for the good of all horses.

When asked what her favorite Louisiana Bred horse was she is quick to answer, Raspberry Wine.

“She made a half million on the track and produced some beautiful babies.”

 

 

TTA Adds Mixed Session to Yearling Sale

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The Texas Thoroughbred Association will add a mixed session to its summer yearling sale scheduled Aug. 29 at Lone Star Park.

It will be the second auction held by the TTA, which in April offered its 2-year-olds in training sale at Lone Star. Fasig-Tipton formerly managed the Texas sales in partnership with the TTA and Lone Star.

“We’ve already seen strong interest from around the region since we announced the yearling sale, and the addition of a mixed session should only increase participation from both buyers and consignors,” TTA executive director Mary Ruyle said in a release. “We are thrilled to be working with Lone Star Park on this venture and to have Tim Boyce directing our sales.

“With a central location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and a top-notch sales pavilion at Lone Star Park, we expect our sales to remain a leader in the Southwest.”

The average for the April 2-year-olds in training sale was up 5% compared with the last auction held by Fasig-Tipton, while the buy-back rate dropped to just under 20% from 33%, officials said.

The entry deadline for the yearling and mixed sessions is June 6. The TTA has mailed consignment forms, and they are also available on a new website (www.ttasales.com) dedicated to the organization’s auctions.

LTBA Board of Directors Ballots in the Mail

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June 1, 2016

Ballots for the LTBA 2016 Board of Directors election have mailed today, June 1, 2016 from TrueBallot in New Haven, CT.

There are six people on the ballot:
Brett Brinkman
Charlotte Stemmans Clavier
Tom Early
Eddie Guidry
Warren Harang, III
Lora Pitre
Members may vote for up to four (4). Only 2016 members in good standing are eligible to vote. Associate members do not have voting privileges.

If you do not receive a ballot, or if you lose or destroy your ballot, you may request a replacement by calling 866-620-4940 anytime and leaving your name, address and phone number. A new ballot will be mailed within 48 hours.

Ballots must be RECEIVED before June 30, 2016. Be sure to allow time for mailing to New Haven, CT. Ballots not received by June 30th WILL NOT BE COUNTED.