X Clown, with Tyler Woodley aboard, wins the 57th running of Louisiana Futurity – Colt & Gelding Division at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
X CLOWN
Jimmy Creed–Evening Muse
Breeder: Michael Villar & Cynthia Villar
Owner: Set-Hut LLC
Trainer: Jerry Delhomme
Jockey: Tyler Woodley
2nd Reach the Circle
Secret Circle–Sky Reach
Breeder: Ronald P. Webb
Owner: Maxie Wayne Kitchings, Jr.,
Trainer: Donald Melancon
Jockey: Jose Andres Guerrero
3rd Fast Verdict
Hampton Court (AUS)–Freedom Afleet
Breeder: Morning Line Thoroughbreds LLC
Owner: Brady Broussard
Trainer: Carl J. Deville
Jockey: Devin H. Magnon
OWNER CRAIG DRAGO WINS THE B CONNECTED FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
B Connected Stakes
Delta Downs, 12-29-19, 7 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $70,000
BENDING SAINT
Saint Afleet–Bending Grass
Breeder: Daniel Chicola
Owner: Craig Drago
Trainer: Allen Landry
Jockey: Timothy Thornton
2nd Double Barrel Man
Musket Man–Double Points Day
Breeder: Michele Rodriguez
Owner: GK Racing LLC
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: C.J. McMahon
3rd Star Fitzstall
Star Guitar–Wild About Marie
Breeder: Brittlyn, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Jose M. Camejo
Jockey: Quincy Hamilton
Bending Saint wins the $70,000 B Connected Stakes at Delta Downs. Coady Photography.
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the 12th running of the $70,000 B Connected Stakes on Saturday night and it was Craig Drago’s Bending Saint who prevailed under jockey Tim Thornton. The win marked Bending Saint’s first in stakes company and it was the second year in a row that Drago won the same race. In 2018 he visited the B Connected winner’s circle with Just Stormin. Both horses were trained by Allen Landry.
Bending Saint broke sharply in the seven-furlong B Connected but did not gain the early advantage as Queeten sprinted out to a narrow lead and carved out fractional times of 23.54 seconds for the opening quarter mile, 48.13 for the half, and 1:13.58 for three quarters. When the field reached the second turn Thornton shook the reins after stalking the leader and his mount responded by overhauling Queeten and setting sail for home, widening his margin to four lengths over the 8-5 favorite Double Barrel Man at the finish line. Star Fitzstall finished third, another three lengths behind the top pair.
The final time of this year’s B Connected was 1:26.45. The race was run over a fast track.
The win by Bending Saint marked the eighth of his career from 31 overall starts. He earned $42,000 for the effort and now has a lifetime bankroll of $258,174.
Bred in Louisiana by Daniel Chicola, Bending Saint is a 5-year-old chestnut gelding by Saint Afleet, out of the Langfuhr mare Bending Grass.
Sent to the gate at odds of 5-2, Bending Saint paid $7 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Double Barrel Man paid $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show. Star Fitzstall was worth $2.80 to show.
Delta Downs will conduct its 13th week of live racing next Wednesday through Saturday. First post time Wednesday and Thursday nights will be at 4:55 pm CST. The first race on Friday and Saturday will be at 5:55 pm.
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.
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KARL BROBERG TRAINEE EXTENDS WINS STREAK TO FOUR IN A ROW
Lookout Stakes
Delta Downs, 12-28-19, 7 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, Fillies and Mares, $70,000
DALE’S LIL SIS
Zong–Judy
Breeder: Indian Creek Thoroughbred Farm, LLC
Owner: End Zone Athletics, Inc.
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: C.J. McMahon
2nd Blue Suade Guitar
Star Guitar–Persuading
Breeder: Brittlyn Stables, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Jose M. Camejo
Jockey: Timothy Thornton
3rd Thegrayspider
Mauk Four–Cigar Starter
Breeder: Robert E Hewlett
Owner: Mike Shamsie
Trainer: Mike Shamsie
Jockey: Larry Taylor
Dale’s Lil Sis wins $70,000 Lookout Stakes at Delta Downs. Coady Photography.
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the first of two stakes races this weekend on Friday night and it was Dale’s Lil Sis who proved best in the $70,000 Lookout Stakes for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares who had not won a stakes race. The win was her fourth consecutive score at Delta Downs this meet and her 11thoverall from 41 career starts.
Starting from the outside post position in a field of nine under jockey C. J. McMahon, Dale’s Lil Sis flashed her customary early speed while leading in the seven-furlong test around two turns. Her fractional times were 24.48 seconds for the quarter mile, 48.83 for the half and 1:13.79 for three-quarters.
When the field reached the top of the stretch, the Karl Broberg trainee took off and extended her lead to 4-3/4 lengths over race favorite Blue Suade Guitar by the time she reached the finish line. Blue Suade Guitar suffered a rough start and settled for the place spot, 3-1/4 lengths to the good of Thegrayspider who rallied from far back to finish third.
Dale’s Lil Sis, who is owned by End Zone Athletics, Inc., covered the distance of the Lookout in a time of 1:27.12 while racing on a fast track.
Dale’s Lil Sis earned $42,000 for the win, which raised the career bankroll to $226,250.
Bred in Louisiana by Indian Creek Thoroughbred Farms LLC, Dale’s Lil Sis is a 5-year-old chestnut runner by Zong, out of the Aldebaran mare Judy.
Sent to the gate as a slight second choice of the wagering public, Dale’s Lil Sis paid $5.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Blue Suade Guitar was worth $3 to place and $2.20 to show. Thegrayspider returned $6 to show.
Delta Downs will close out its 12th week of racing on Saturday night with a 10-race program that begins at 5:55 pm CST. The featured race will be the $70,000 B Connected Stakes, carded as the eighth event on the program.
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.
Donna Bean Brown passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at the age of 64. Beloved wife and best friend of 37 years to Danny Mack Brown. Loving mother of Misty Brown Spiers (Jason). Daughter of the late Norma Burford Bean and Aaron Eugene Bean. Sister to the late Pamela Bean Cousins, her precious baby doll. Grandmother to Jacob, Dylan, Jadyn (Tater) and Xander. All the light of her life. Steve Cousins, a cherished brother in law, niece Stephanie Irwin (Ryan), great nieces Ferin, Kyley, great nephews Camden, Ryker, and Slayden, nephew Steven Cousins (Connie), great niece Makayla, and great nephews Steven and Austin. Late brother-in-law Alton Brown, niece Jenny Brown, nephew Chris Brown, great nephew Brandon, and great nieces Kayla and Marissa. Mother-in-law Genevieve L. Brown. She leaves behind many true friends and loved all of them unconditionally.
Donna loved boiled seafood and a beer every Friday night of her married life and was a diehard #1 fan of the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and the LSU Tigers. Donna was also the farm manager for Brown’s Thoroughbred Farm, a true horse woman that raised and raced many winning racehorses over the years. She was also a member LAHBPA and LTBA. Among her talents, she was also a very good bass fisherman, along with other things too numerous to mention.
She fought a courageous battle with Hodgkin’s cancer 37 years ago, and an ongoing battle with heart disease since 2007, however she could not survive her most recent diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer, and will be sorely missed by all.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Monday, December 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM with visitation on Sunday evening from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and on Monday beginning at 1:00 PM until service time. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the E.J. Fielding Funeral Home online Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
Following the death of Hall of Fame jockey Randy Romero this past summer at 61, supporters in his native Louisiana are keeping his legacy alive at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans. Besides the track naming a race after the famed jockey—the Feb. 1 Randy P. Romero Memorial Stakes—a group of nine friends have created the Randy Romero Pure Courage Award to honor a North American jockey who, like Romero, battled back from injury and adversity to achieve success.
The recipient of the award will receive a bronze trophy in a presentation at Fair Grounds on Louisiana Derby Day March 21, organizer Rick Mocklin said.
Romero, a winner of 4,294 races and $75.2 million in earnings over a career from 1973-99, was the regular rider of such elite distaffers as Go For Wand and Personal Ensign, with whom he teamed to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in 1988 to finish an unbeaten career. He won 122 graded stakes and riding titles at 10 tracks, including Belmont Park, Arlington Park, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, and Fair Grounds.
He managed to do this despite a slew of injuries that shortened his career and left him fighting pain for much of the second half of his life. Among these injuries was a near-fatal sauna explosion at Oaklawn Park that burned 60% of his body in 1983, after which he contracted hepatitis C from blood transfusions during skin graph operations. He returned to riding 14 months after the Oaklawn accident.
The 1990s brought more physical setbacks, including when Go For Wand was fatally injured in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Romero crashed to the ground, breaking eight ribs and a bone in his shoulder. He finished riding later that decade, with Mocklin acting as his agent for a couple of those years.
“He went through so many things that 10 riders might not go through in their career, but Randy was always looking to ride again,” Mocklin said. “No matter what the injury was, he was looking when he could ride again and get back in the saddle.”
The goal of the Randy Romero Pure Courage Award is to honor a rider who shows the same kind of determination.
Mocklin said the nine people organizing the award—which include trainer Dallas Stewart and Kentucky restaurateur Tommy Walters—are funding the trophy’s purchase and will vote to determine the winner. To be eligible, a rider needs to be nominated before the committee’s Jan. 15 deadline, with nominations made to Mocklin at 504-382-9787 or via email to info@shantellaneriefoundation.com.
Brian Hernandez, Jr, aboard Afleet Roger, wins his 2000th win at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, LA. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
New Orleans (December 19, 2019) –In 2004, Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. earned the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey. A mere 15-years later in Thursday’s fifth race at Fair Grounds, the Lafayette, Louisiana native captured career win number 2,000 aboard Afleet Roger for trainer James Baker.
The 3-year-old gelding Afleet Roger broke alertly and was well-placed early, sitting just off the pace as the first flight of leaders went a quarter in: 23.99. Down the backstretch, Hernandez made a middle move down on the inside, took the lead at the half-mile pole and opened up down the stretch, running away from the field to win the $12,500 maiden claimer by 9 1/4thlengths in a final time of 1:46.98 for the 1 1/16 miles journey.
“When I first started, I never really thought I’d get to 2,000,” Hernandez said after the race. “It just started to get brought up and all of a sudden they were counting it down and I was getting closer and closer. To get to 2,000 is a cool milestone to have on a resume, now I just want to keep working hard and reaching for more.”
Brian Hernandez Jr. rode his first winner in 2003 at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. Just three later, Hernandez was aboard Cielo Gold when winning the 2006 edition of the Indiana Derby (G2) giving the young jockey his first of 51 career graded stakes wins.
The highlight of Hernandez’s career came in 2012 when he guided the Ian Wilkes-trained Fort Larned to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Locally, he is best known for his work with Girvin, winner of both the 2017 Risen Star (G2) and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) for trainer Joe Sharp.
“As a young rider you are just excited to go out there and win as many races as you can,” Hernandez said. “Even to this day, years later, it’s fun to go out and win. We just try to win as many races as possible and we’re always looking for the next top level horse.”
Louisiana Champions Day Turf
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, @ 8.5 furlongs, turf
Three Year Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $100,000
Ninety One Assault, with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, wins the 29th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
NINETY ONE ASSAULT
Artie Schiller–Lilly Ladue
Breeder: Richey & Strode Stables, LLC
Owner: Thomas Morley and Paul Braverman
Trainer: Thomas Morley
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
2nd Remembermis
Misremembered–School Girl
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Raise the BAR Racing, LLC
Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie
3rd Budro Talking
Tale of Ekati–American Placed
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Jason S. Guidry and Karl Broberg
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez
Louisiana Champions Day Sprint
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, 6 furlongs
Three Year Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $100,000
Laughingsaintssong, with Colby Hernandez aboard, wins the 29th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
LAUGHINGSAINTSONG
Songandaprayer–Laughing Saint
Breeder: J. E. Jumonville Jr. & Bunny Jumonville
Owner: Rodney J. Verret
Trainer: Allen Landry
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez
2nd Takes Two to Tango
Half Ours–Doyouwanttodance
Breeder: Melissa Cantacuzene
Owner: Melissa Cantacuzene
Trainer: J. Luis Garcia
Jockey: Diego Saenz
3rd Double Barrel Man
Musket Man–Double Points Day
Breeder: Michele Rodriguez
Owner: GK Racing LLC
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Jack Gilligan
Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, @ 8.5 furlongs, turf
Three Year Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, Fillies and Mares, $100,000
Net A Bear, with Florent Geroux aboard, wins the 29th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
NET A BEAR
Awesome Bet–Edacious Reality
Breeder: Lora Pitre & Elaine Carroll
Owner: Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro
Trainer: Allen Landry
Jockey: Florent Geroux
2nd Room to Finish
Giant Oak–Can’t Roll a Seven
Breeder: Mike Meeks
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds, Forge Ahead Stables, LLC and Jerry Caroom
Trainer: Wayne M. Catalano
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
3rd Eskenformore
Eskendereya–Madel
Breeder: Sugarland Thoroughbred, LLC
Owner: Sugarland Thoroughbreds LLC
Trainer: James E. Hodges
Jockey: James Graham
Louisiana Champions Day Classic
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, 1 mile and 1/8
Three Year Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $150,000
Pound For Pound, with Aubrie Green aboard, wins the 29th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
POUND FOR POUND
Redding Colliery–Buttercup’s Song
Breeder: J. Adcock & B&B Bloodstock
Owner: Israel Flores Horses LLC
Trainer: Andrea Ancil Ali
Jockey: Aubrie Green
2nd Trevilion
Lone Star Special–Spotsylvania
Breeder: Tigertail Ranch
Owner: Tigertail Ranch
Trainer: Victor Arceneaux
Jockey: Diego Saenz
3rd Underpressure
Birdstone–Charming Colleen
Breeder: James McIngvale
Owner: Mallory Greiner
Trainer: Chris Richard
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie
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