Accredited Louisiana Breds to Race for Nearly $6 Million in Stakes Purses in 2024

Accredited Louisiana Breds to Race for Nearly $6 Million in Stakes Purses in 2024

(New Orleans, LA) – In addition to benefitting from one of the most lucrative overnight purse structures and breeding incentive programs in the country, Accredited Louisiana breds will have a nearly $6 million stakes schedule to run at in 2024, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association has announced.

“We are proud to offer a dynamic stakes program that provides a year-round schedule for Accredited Louisiana breds,” said Roger Heitzmann III, secretary-treasurer of the LTBA. “With a total of 67 stakes for $5.71 million, there are opportunities for horses of all ages, going long and short, and on turf and dirt. There are also several races with starter or non-winners of a stake conditions, so there is truly a chance for all types of runners to compete.”

Of the 67 stakes races, 33 will offer a purse of $100,000 or more. While many states offer a special day of stakes races dedicated to state breds, Louisiana is the only one to present four state-bred stakes showcases with one at each of the state’s racetracks.

Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel has Louisiana Premier Night, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino offers Louisiana Legeands Night, Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots presents Louisiana Champions Day, and Louisiana Downs provides Louisiana Cup Day.

“Our owners and trainers have found this to be a tremendous benefit, and we are thankful to have four tracks that do great job of supporting Louisiana breds,” added Heitzmann. “There is always a big stakes day coming up on the horizon, so it provides extra flexibility to run horses on a schedule that meets their individual needs.”

The Louisiana bred stakes program has proven to be a launching pad for horses like Free Like a Girl, a millionaire who has won an incredible 14 stakes in Louisiana while also competing successfully in graded stakes company around the country. Bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne, the daughter of Louisiana stallion El Deal is being aimed for a possible start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April.

While the stakes and overnight purses make Accredited Louisiana breds more valuable to owners, there are also benefits for breeders and stallion owners. Breeders can earn up to 25% in breeders’ awards for horses finishing in the top three in races in Louisiana, and worldwide breeders’ awards are paid on races outside of the state. Stallion awards are paid on top three finishes in allowance, handicap, and stakes within the state, in addition to stakes races outside of Louisiana.

For more information about the 2024 Accredited Louisiana-bred stakes schedule, go to www.louisianabred.com or visit the individual racetrack’s websites for specific date information and conditions.

 

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association louisianabred.com
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Louisiana Breds Prove Value in Open Stakes Across the Country

Louisiana breds have proved time and again that they can compete with top runners all across the country. Over the weekend, Louisiana bred runners performed exceptionally well in open stakes in Iowa, Delaware and Kentucky.

On Friday, July 8th, Janet is Ready, a two-year-old Louisiana bred filly by Custom For Carlos out of Just Call Me Janet won the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The Chasey Deville Pomier trainee took the lead soon after the start, led up the backstretch and held on to the lead despite a late challenge to win by a head in her 3rd start.

Then Saturday at Prairie Meadows, Free Like a Girl, also a Chasey Deville Pomier trainee, set the pace in the mile and one sixteenth $225,000 Iowa Oaks (G3). The three-year-old filly dueled with eventual second place runner Falconet around the turn, but failed to move for the lead and held on for third earning graded stakes sire status for El Deal, who leads the list of Louisiana Second Crop sires. Free Like a Girl, who is out of Flashy Prize, was voted 2021 Louisiana Bred two-year-old champion filly. She has started 3 times in 2022, winning two Louisiana bred stakes races, before placing in the G3 Iowa Oaks. Her record to date is 14-7-3-3 with $423,873 in earnings.

Also Saturday, 2021 Louisiana Bred three-year-old champion filly and 2021 Louisiana Horse of the Year, Cilla (California Chrome-Sittin At The Bar), placed second by half a length in the $100,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park. A graded stakes winner at 3, Cilla has now accumulated $504,000 in 17 starts with 7 wins, 2 second and 3 thirds.

Then at Ellis Park, Louisiana Bred, Mystique Saboteur ran third among open company in the Pea Patch Overnight Stakes. The filly by Gun Runner out of Jemima’s Pearl, earlier this placed 2nd in the Goldfinsh Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Louisiana-breds Shine at Texas 2YO Sale

Accredited Louisiana breds sold exceptionally well at the Texas Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale which was held Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at Lone Star Park at Grand  Prairie. 

A Louisiana-bred filly from the first crop of Spendthrift Farm’s stallion Free Drop Billy consigned by Carl Deville as Hip 134 topped the sale at $200,000. The filly attracted attention after she breezed a quick 10.2 over the Lone Star Park dirt Monday afternoon. Out of the Half Ours mare Solo Buena, she’s a half-sister to stakes-placed Swot Analysis, who was second in the Louisiana Futurity at two. The filly previously sold as a yearling in the 2021 Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana Yearling Sale for $10,500. 

A total of 30 accredited Louisiana breds sold for $1,137,500 with an average of $37,917, above the sale average of $34,667. The median price for Louisiana breds sold through the ring was $30,000 also above the sale median of $28,000.

Other Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana Yearling Sale graduates showed significant bumps over their yearling sale prices. Hip 133, a filly by Star Guitar out of the Hard Spun mare, Well Spun also consigned by Carl Deville, sold for $30,000 an increase of $21,500 over her yearling sale price of $8,500. And Hip 100, a colt by Guilt Trip out of the stakes winning Milwaukee Brew mare Hometown Gossip, sold for $24,000 out of the Benchmark Training Center Consignment, up $20,500 from his yearling sale price of $3,500. 

Following the sale, Roger Heitzmann, Secretary/Treasurer of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association said “Louisiana breds offer pinhookers a terrific return on their investment. With purses on the rise in Louisiana, I expect the demand for accredited Louisiana breds to rise as well.”

Louisiana Breeding Program attracting Quality Mares

Dam of New Track Record setting Hollis brings class to Louisiana breds

On Friday, December 10th six-year-old gelding Hollis (Street Sense-Miss Inclined, by Pulpit) set a new track record at Oaklawn Park sprinting 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.17, defeating favorite Nashville in the process. 

His dam, Miss Inclined, is indicative of the type of mares that Louisiana is attracting into its state bred program. The multiple stakes placed Pulpit mare is the dam of five winners from five starters out of seven foals, including stakes winner and new track record setter, Hollis as well as G1 placed Lady Lily. 

Miss Inclined now has two Accredited Louisiana bred fillies, a yearling by Liam’s Map and a weanling by Clearly Now. She is bred back to McKinzie.

The influx of monies coming into Louisiana thanks to legislation allowing sports betting and historical racing are expected to make the Louisiana Breeding Program even more attractive. More information about the Accredited Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeding Program can be found on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association website at www.Louisianabred.com or by calling 504-947-4676