Louisiana Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter S. Delta Downs, 2-9-19, 5 furlongs 4YOs & Up, Accredited Louisiana Breds, $50,000
HUNKER DOWN
Musket Man-My Friend Bele, by My Friend Max
Breeder: Jo Ann Thompson
Owner: Ming Yan Ng and Ron Faucheux
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: A. Bexchizza
2nd Biblical Strength
Custom For Carlos-Ihavemyeyeonyou, by Crafty Prospector
Breeder: Coulee Croche Thoroughbreds & C.F. Newman
Owner: Timothy C. Guidry
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: T. Thornton
3rd So Sorry Ruston
Interactif-So Sorry, by The Prime Minister
Breeder: Neal McFadden
Owner: Paul M. Gaudet
Trainer: Ricky Courville
Jockey: G. Melancon
Louisiana Premier Night Bon Temps Starter S. Delta Downs, 2-9-19, 5 furlongs 4YOs & Up, Accredited Louisiana Bred Fillies and Mares, $50,000
TOOMUCH
Silent Pleasure-Took Out, by Barkerville
Breeder: Penny Scarberry
Owner: Darque Horse Racing, LLC
Trainer: Eduardo Ramirez
Jockey: D. Saenz
2nd Our Millie
Half Ours-Magic Madam, by You and I
Breeder: Barbara V. Rowell
Owner: Ming Yan Ng
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: Q. Hamilton
3rd Elektracutioner
Custom For Carlos-Quadriga, by Grand Slam
Breeder: LA Bred Equine Enterprises
Owner: End Zone Athletics
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: T. Thornton
Every Tuesday at 6:00 PM Eastern, Kristina McManigell presents an in-depth look into the lives and careers of the greatest jockeys in the sport on Jock Talk, presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Listen as she visits with hall of fame riders, young jocks and everyone in between. Join Kristina tonight for a an hour with 2,000 win jockey Colby Hernandez.
A portion of the proceeds from every episode of Jock Talk will be used to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Jock Talk airs tonight from 6-7 PM Eastern on Sirius 219, XM 201, or at www.horseracingradio.net.
Lone Star Park has scheduled 13 stakes races worth over $1.1 million for its upcoming 44-day Thoroughbred meeting which opens Apr. 18. Highlighting the 2019 stakes offerings is the $300,000 GIII Steve Sexton Mile, which will be run Apr. 28. The meet will also include the first running of the $100,000 Lone Star Park Turf S. for fillies and mares to be run May 27. Two cards will feature four stakes each for Texas-bred runners; June 23’s Lone Star Showcase Day and July 14’s Stars of Texas Day, presented by Highlander Training Center.
Grand Luwegee wins the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes at Delta Downs, Saturday, February 9th. Coady Photography
– JOCKEY DIEGO SAENZ TALLIES FOUR STAKES WINS ON RICH NIGHT OF RACING –
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted its richest program of the season on Saturday night with another edition of Louisiana Premier Night. The 12-race card featured 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and nearly $1 million in total purse money up for grabs.
The featured event of the night was the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles. The race was won by Grand Luwegee with jockey Diego Saenz in the saddle for owner, breeder and trainer Gerard Perron. The win was the third of four victories on the night for Saenz.
After the race, Perron praised Saenz for a special talent he used to help Grand Luwegee get to the winner’s circle following his first stakes win.
“Diego’s got the hands that this horse needs,” Perron stated. “He’s proven it each time he’s ridden him.”
Perron also explained how Grand Luwegee got his unique name.
“I let my grandsons name my horses and Bryce, who is six, came up with the name.”
Grand Luwegee’s win came with a front-running, rail skimming trip after he broke alertly from the inside post position in a field of 10. The 4-year-old carved our fractional times of 23.91 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 48.33 for the half, and 1:13.30 for three-quarters. At the top of the lane he owned a three-length lead before turning back a late challenge by Givemeaminit and won by a neck on the finish line. Mageez finished another 3 ¾-lengths behind in third.
The final time for the Championship was 1:45.80 over a fast track.
Grand Luwegee has now won five of 13 career starts and his $90,000 paycheck on Saturday raised his overall bankroll to $235,360.
Bred in Louisiana, Grand Luwegee is a dark bay or brown colt by El Corredor, out of the Gold Fever mare Magical Mia.
Sent to the gate at odds of 11-1, Grand Luwegee paid $24.20 to win, $10 to place and $6.40 to show. Givemeaminit returned $4 to place and $3 to show. Mageez was worth $7.20 to show.
In other action on Louisiana Premier Night it was Hyper Piper winning the $125,000 Distaff under jockey Tim Thornton. The grey 6-year-old is trained by Sam B. David, Jr. and is owned by Earl J. Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh.
This year’s $100,000 Sprint was taken by Wonder Run, who was guided to victory by jockey Diego Saenz, Wonder Run is a 6-year-old gelding who is trained by Steven Flint and is owned by Whispering Oak Farm, LLC.
James McIngvale’s 3-year-old Goodprofit proved best in this year’s $100,000 Starlet while being ridden by Gerard Melancon. The 3-year-old bay runner is trained by Chris Richard.
A strong rally in the stretch got Shang to the winner’s circle in the $100,000 Prince with jockey Diego Saenz aboard. Shang is owned by Corinne and William Heiligbrodt and is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Ours to Run won her second straight $100,000 Matron this year as she turned in a strong performance under jockey Roberto Morales. The winner is owned by Colonel Thoroughbreds LLC and is trained by Larry Jones.
Galaxy Thirtysix gave Delta Downs leading trainer Karl Broberg a win on the program in the $60,000 Ladies Starter, as she drew clear in the lane under jockey Tim Thornton. Galaxy Thirtysix is owned by End Zone Athletics, Inc.
Jockey Kerwin Clark rode a masterful race in the $60,000 Gentlemen Starter to earn the victory aboard Just Stormin. The Allen Landry trainee is owned by Craig Drago.
In the $50,000 Bon Temps Starter it was Toomuch getting the victory with Diego Saenz in the saddle. Toomuch is owned by Darque Horse Racing, LLC and is trained by Eduardo Ramirez.
And finally, Hunker Down took the $50,000 Ragin Cajun Starter with jockey Adam Beschizza aboard for trainer Ron Faucheux, who owns the 6-year-old gelding in partnership with Ming Yan Ng.
Delta Downs will embark on its 18th week of live racing Wednesday night with a 10-race program that kicks off at 5:25 pm. The current season runs through March 9.
For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
Newborn foals are among the most at-risk members of the horse population, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s veterinary adviser, James Crowhurst, said Feb. 7, following the confirmation of an outbreak of equine influenza in Great Britain.
While cases of the highly contagious virus have so far been confined to horses of racing age, Crowhurst, who is also a consultant clinician at the Newmarket Equine Hospital, said the TBA was understandably worried.
VINTON, La. – Louisiana Premier Night will take place on Saturday, February 9, at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel in Vinton, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a total of two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Spring 2019.
Must be in good standing with the college or university.
Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
For Louisiana Premier Night:
Registration: 4:25 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. at the designated booth
Races begin: 5:25 p.m.
Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
For more information, please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.
Law enforcement and Louisiana State Racing Commission officials are investigating a Jan. 12 break-in of the test barn at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs and the theft of a number of split samples from a locked freezer.
The break-in occurred during the second week of a Quarter Horse meeting that began on Jan. 5 at the Bossier City, La., racetrack and casino.
Charles Gardiner III, executive director of the Louisiana State Racing Commission, told the Paulick Report that no primary samples were affected because they had already been sent to the state’s official test lab at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine Analytical Systems Laboratory in Baton Rouge. Split samples are stored and are tested at a referee laboratory only in the event of a positive drug test in a primary sample
Gardiner added there no positives reported from the primary samples tested from the Jan. 5, 6, 7 and 8 Quarter Horse programs. “All of them were clear,” he said. Gardiner declined further comment because the investigation is ongoing.
Racing resumed the afternoon of Jan. 12 following the break-in.
The test barn at Louisiana Downs does not have surveillance cameras.
After coming up just short in last year’s Louisiana-bred Premier Night Championship Stakes at Delta Downs, Underpressure will try to earn a trip to the winner’s circle this year against an expected nine state-bred rivals in the 1 1/16-mile test Feb. 9.
The $150,000 Premier Night Championship is one of six stakes for Louisiana-breds that will award a total $675,000 in purses. The card also features four starter stakes that will award another $220,000.
In last year’s Premier Night Championship, Mallory Greiner’s Underpressure launched a strong rally from sixth but would be edged for the win by Mobile Bay, who prevailed by a nose. Underpressure, a son of Birdstone, will be making his first start as a 5-year-old after closing last season with a 3 1/2-length score over state-breds in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic Dec. 8 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Chris Richard, Underpressure boasts three stakes wins and seven stakes placings as he enters his fourth season of racing. On Saturday he’ll start from post four with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard.
After a stakes win and an allowance-optional claiming victory sprinting at Fair Grounds, Valene Farms’ Givemeaminit will stretch out Saturday while Brittlyn Stable’s Magic Vow will try for a second consecutive stakes win after a four-length victory in the off-the-turf Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes Dec. 8 at Fair Grounds.
The field also includes the second- and third-place finishers from the Louisiana Champions Day Classic in runner-up Grande Basin and third-place finisher Mageez.
In the other five stakes for state-breds on Saturday’s Louisiana Premier Night card:
Carl Moore Management’s Midnight Fantasy will try to secure her fourth win in as many starts and third stakes victory in the $100,000 Starlet Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.
In the $100,000 Matron for older fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs, Colonel Thoroughbreds’ Ours to Run will try to extend a streak of three straight stakes wins against state-breds by a combined 18 lengths.
In the $100,000 Prince Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile, Valene Farms’ Classy John will try for a third straight stakes win.
In the 125,000 Distaff at one mile, Brittlyn Stable homebred Testing One Two puts her two-race win streak at Delta Downs on the line.
In the $100,000 Sprint Stakes, Ivery Sisters Racing’s Monte Man will try to defend his 2018 win in the five-furlong race, which was one of five stakes scores last year for the son of Custom for Carlos.
$150,000 LAPN CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS EXCITING CARD FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS –
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is gearing up for another rich race program on Saturday as the track hosts the 16th edition of Louisiana Premier Night. The 12-race program will feature 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses worth nearly $1 million in total purse money. First post time for the rich program is at 5:25 pm Central Time.
Saturday’s featured race will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the ninth race on the program. This year’s Championship attracted a full field of 12, which includes two also eligible horses. The Chris Richard trainee Underpressure is one of the horses to watch in the feature as he just missed in last year’s race after taking the Louisiana Premier Night Prince in 2017.
The $125,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff field will include a pair of Brittlyn Stables runners in Testing One Two and Mr. Al’s Gal. Testing One Two is trained by Victor Arceneaux and is undefeated at Delta Downs with five wins in as many starts, including a score in the Treasure Chest Stakes on November 16. Mr. Al’s Gal, who hails from the barn of Justin Jeansonne, is the high earner in the field with a lofty bankroll of $479,400. The daughter of Salute the Sarge won the Louisiana Premier Night Starlet in 2017 before finishing third in last year’s Distaff.
In addition to the local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Night there are also some nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Hall of Famers Jerry Hollendorfer and Steve Amussen, as well as Larry Jones, Al Stall, Jr., Dallas Stewart and Bret Calhoun.
Delta Downs will offer a $50,000 guaranteed all stakes Pick 4 wager on the special Louisiana Premier Night program. The special Pick 4 will take place on races six through nine, which includes the evening’s richest race, the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship serving as the anchor leg.
Fans can also take part in a special handicapping contest on Louisiana Premier Night which will offer a first-place prize of $500 and other cash prizes paid down to the top five finishers. The contest is free to enter but participants must be 21 years of age and a B Connected or Prime Rewards member to play. The contest will take place on races five through 10 and the deadline to enter is post time for the fifth race.
Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2019 in program order.
Race # Purse Stakes Race Distance Age
2 $100,000 LAPN Starlet 1 mile 3yo Fillies
3 $50,000 LAPN Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
4 $60,000 LAPN Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
9 $150,000 LAPN Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
10 $125,000 LAPN Distaff 1 mile 4yo & up FM
11 $100,000 LAPN Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be awarding two $1,000 college scholarships via a drawing that will take place on Louisiana Premier Night. Entries for the drawing will be taken between 4:25-5:25 pm in the promenade area. To qualify for the drawing, entrants must be enrolled in a good standing in a Louisiana school. The winners of the scholarships will be announced during the program.
For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ current season, which runs through March 9, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
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