OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs wrapped up its 2021 Thoroughbred season on Saturday night with an 11-race program that featured the $60,000 D. S. ‘Shine’ Young Futurity for colts and geldings and recognition of the top horsemen for the meet.
The D. S. ‘Shine’ Young was won by Whispering Oaks Farm’s Fiesty Fist. The 24-1 longshot was ridden to victory by jockey Kevin Smith, who got a leg up from trainer Steven Flint before the 5-1/2-furlong test for 2-year-olds.
Breaking from post nine in a 10-horse field, Fiesty Fist sat off the early pace of 22.08 seconds for the opening quarter mile and 45.92 for the half set by True Deal. As the field turned for home, True Deal held a narrow lead while riding the rail as Fiesty Fist and Tambourine Star were closing in during the final furlong. At the wire, Fiesty Fist passed the pacesetter by just a half-length to claim victory while Tambourine Star settled for third, another head behind the runner-up.
The final time for Fiesty Fist was 1:05.39 while racing over a track listed as muddy.
The win by Fiesty Fist was the second of his three-race career. He broke his maiden at first asking on May 20 before finishing sixth in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs on August 21. He earned $36,000 for his win on Saturday while raising his overall bankroll to $50,400.
Bred in Louisiana by Carrol J. Castille, Fiesty Fist is a 2-year-old bay gelding by Iron Fist, out of the Roman Ruler mare Sheza Roman Ruler.
Fans who backed Fiesty Fist at the wagering window were rewarded to payoffs of $51 to win, $27.80 to place and $15.60 to show. True Deal paid $5.40 to place and $3.60 to show. Tambourine Star was worth $3.20 to show.
FIRST STAKES VICTORY FOR THE CHASEY DEVILLE POMIER RUNNER
Free Like A Girl wins the Filly Division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity.
OPELOUSAS, LA –The penultimate day of racing saw a potential star-in-the-making as Gerald Bruno, Jr.’s Free Like a Girl scored a big victory in the $60,000 D.S. ‘Shine’ Young Futurity on Friday night. The filly division of the futurity for Louisiana-bred runners was contested over the distance of 5-1/2 furlongs.
Madame Jane broke sharply to gain early control, with Free Like a Girl rushing up after a slow start from her outside post. Through an opening quarter-mile in a quick 22.06 seconds, Madame Jane opened up a 1-1/2 length lead with Free Like a Girl and Morewickedthanless on the chase. Jockey Pedro Cotto Jr. urged Free Like a Girl to go after the leader and cut that margin to only a head as they covered the half-mile in 46.25 seconds.
Despite drifting wide coming off the turn, Free Like a Girl was able to wrestle the lead away from a tiring Madame Jane inside the final furlong. Buckley Bunny and Serape both made late challenges in the lane, but were held off by the Chasey Deville Pomier runner. The winning margin for Free Like a girl, who stopped the clock in 1:05.87 over a track rated fast, was 1-1/4 lengths. Buckley Bunny was up for second, with Serape a ½-length back in third. Early leader Madame Jane faded to fourth.
The winner’s share of $36,000 increased the lifetime bankroll of Free Like a Girl to $75,713. The victory is the second win from only six career starts.
The 2-year-old was bred in Louisiana by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne. The bay filly is by El Deal, out of the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize.
Sent off as the favorite at even money, Free Like a Girl paid $4 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. Buckley Bunny returned $5.80 to place and $4 to show. Serape paid backers $5.80 to show.
BIND SIRES THE WINNERS OF BOTH DIVISIONS ON SATURDAY NIGHT
OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs hosted two divisions of the $60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity for accredited Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds during the closing night program on Saturday night.
Mirabeau, with Diego Saenz aboard wins the filly division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Coady Photography.
The fillies’ division of the “Shine” Young Futurity was a victory procession for Mirabeau. She started off well and sat just off the pace set by Mamas Gone Crazy, a 39-1 longshot, who led through early fractions of 22.07 seconds for the quarter and 46.19 seconds for the half. Once the field reached the top of the stretch, however, Mirabeau took the lead and never looked back. She kept widening her lead until she crossed the finish line 10-1/4 lengths ahead of Squox, who rallied from last to be second, while Mamas Gone Crazy held on for third. Mirabeau covered the 5-1/2 furlongs in 1:04.90 over the fast track.
Mirabeau paid $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Squox returned $6.80 to place and $6.60 to show and Mamas Gone Crazy paid $10 to show.
Mirabeau was bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Nathan Granger. The 2-year-old filly is owned by Larry Romero and Ron Faucheux, who doubles as the trainer. Diego Saenz was aboard for the victory. Mirabeau is by Bind and is out of the Speightstown mare, Smittystown. She has won three of four lifetime starts and the $36,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $75,350.
The colts and geldings division of the “Shine” Young Futurity resulted in a big win for Chu Chu’s Legacy. The leading rider for the Evangeline Downs season, Tim Thornton, had the colt well-positioned right from the start as part of a duel for the lead with Bernie Special through fractions of 21.81 seconds for the quarter and 45.73 seconds for the half. Chu Chu’s Legacy shook clear of his challenger entering the stretch and won easily by four lengths. The 3-5 betting favorite, Schnell, got off to a slow start, but rallied late to finish second over G’Wildcat. Chu Chu’s Legacy finished the 5-1/2 furlongs in a time of 1:05.42.
Chu Chu’s Legacy wins the colt and gelding division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Coady Photography.
Chu Chu’s Legacy won at odds of 4-1 and returned $10.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Schnell returned $2.20 to place and $2.20 to show, while G’Wildcat paid $6.60 to show.
Chu Chu’s Legacy was bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Hume Warnell. The 2-year-old colt is owned and trained by Allen Landry. Chu Chu’s Legacy was sired by Bind and is out of the Johannesburg mare, Bond’s Babe. He has won two of three lifetime starts and the $36,000 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $60,800.
Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume Thursday, September 17 with the beginning of the American Quarter Horse season. Post time during this season will be 5:35 pm Central Time.
For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT ON JULY 4 AND “SHINE” YOUNG FUTURITIES ON AUGUST 29
OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs is returning to racing on Friday, June 5 with the first of 50 live racing nights featuring a nine-race program. The season had originally been scheduled to kick off on April 8, but that opening was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There will be two major evenings of stakes racing held during the season. Louisiana Legends Night, Evangeline Downs’ annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbred, will be held on Saturday, July 4, as six stakes races will be run with purses totaling $360,000. Also, there will be two divisions of the $60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity, one for 2-year-old fillies and one for 2-year-old colts and geldings, contested on the final night of the season on Saturday, August 29.
The well-being of our equine athletes is always paramount at Evangeline Downs and because of that a new rail that has been installed on the turf course this season. The rail is from Duralock Performance Fencing of Oxfordshire, England and is made from vinyl, which increases the safety for both horses and riders should they contact it. This rail is currently in use in racing jurisdictions around the globe including Dubai, France, the United Kingdom, New York and Kentucky.
Live racing at Evangeline Downs will be conducted this season on a Wednesday-Saturday weekly schedule. Post time this season will be 5:50 pm Central Time.
For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs hosted two divisions of the $75,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity on Saturdaynight for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds, one for colts and geldings and one for fillies.
Pickett wins the colt division of the D.S “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity. Coady Photography
D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity (colt and gelding div.)
Evangeline Downs, 7-14-18, 5 1/2 furlongs, $75,000
2YO Accredited Louisiana Breds
PICKETT
Goldencents–Street Beat
Breeder: William D. Pickett
Owner: Charles Carlton
Trainer: Glenn Delahoussaye
Jockey: Timothy Thornton
2nd Victory Trip
Guilt Trip–Anne Margaret
Breeder: Terry Adcock
Owner: Norman Stables
Trainer: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Ashley Broussard
3rd Beto
Custom for Carlos–Bella Moneta
Breeder: Jason Hall & BCS Thoroughbreds LLC
Owner: L. William and Corinne Heilibrodt
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Jockey: Roberto Morales
In the Colts and Geldings Division, a speed duel between the two betting choices developed as Beto and Pickett hooked up shortly after the start. The pair duked it out through a swift 21.97 seconds for the quarter-mile and 45.87 for the half. Beto, the 7-5 betting favorite, was the one that gave way as they entered the stretch. Pickett then had to withstand a late challenge from Victory Trip and did so convincingly, pulling away to a nine-length victory in a final time of 1:05.37 for the 5-1/2 furlongs over the fast track.
Pickett was sent off at 5-2 by the wagering public and paid $7.60 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Victory Trip returned $4.40 to place and $3 to show. Beto held third and paid $2.60 to show.
Pickett was bred in Louisiana by William D. Pickett and is owned by Charles Carlton. The 2-year-old gelding is trained by Glenn Delahoussaye and was ridden to victory by Tim Thornton. Pickett is by two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, Goldencents and out of the Dixie Brass mare, Street Beat. He is now 2-for-2 in his brief career and the $45,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $59,400.
Atchata wins the filly division of the D.S “Shine” Young Memorial Futurity. Coady Photography
ATCHATA
Apriority–Sweet Jackie Jo
Breeder: 4M Ranch
Owner: L. William and Corinne Heilibrodt
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Jockey: Diego Saenz
2nd D’Rockette
D’wildcat–Rock N Roll Brick
Breeder: Carrol J. Castille
Owner: Whispering Oaks Farm LLC
Trainer: Steven B. Flint
Jockey: Roberto Morales
3rd Scat At M. Pat’s
Bind-Fast Annie
Breeder: J. Adcock
Owner: Rodney Virgadamo and Keith Bonura
Trainer: Justin Jeansonne
Jockey: Timothy Thornton
In the Fillies Division of the $75,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity, it was Atchata who shone the brightest. The filly, who was sent off as the 4-5 betting favorite, was one of the early pacesetters after a strong start. She and Scat At Ms. Pat’s dueled through strong fractions of 22.12 seconds for the quarter-mile and 46.14 for the half-mile. As the field turned for home, Atchata turned on the after-burners and drew away to a convincing 6-1/2 length victory in a final time of 1:06.25 for the 5-1/2 furlongs. An 80-1 longshot, D’rockette closed to get second and Scat At Ms. Pat’s held third.
Atchata returned $3.60 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show. D’Rockette paid $27.80 to place and $7.80 to show, while Scat At Ms. Pat’s paid $3 to show.
Atchata was bred in Louisiana by 4M Ranch and owned by Corrine and William Heiligbrodt. The 2-year-old filly is trained by Steve Asmussen and was ridden to victory by Diego Saenz. Atchata is by Apriority and is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare, Sweet Jackie Jo. She has now won two of three races in her career and the $45,000 first-place purse increased her lifetime earnings to $100,000.
Spendthrift Farm’s Goldencents was represented by his first black-type winner July 14 when his son Pickett scored a nine-length, gate-to-wire romp in the D.S. Shine Young Futurity for colts at Evangeline Downs.
Trained by Glenn Delahoussaye, the 2-year-old gelding broke sharply in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, shook free from the rest of the pack as they hit the turn, and drew off in the stretch under a brisk drive to finish in 1:05.37.
Saturday’s win was the second for Pickett, who broke his maiden May 30 with an equally speedy 6 1/2-length win going 4 1/2 furlongs.
Goldencents, whose three grade 1 wins included consecutive Breeders’ Cup Dirt Miles, is the son of fellow Spendthrift stallion Into Mischief. The now 8-year-old horse broke his maiden on debut at Del Mar and competed in graded stakes races for the rest of his career.
Goldencents retired in 2014 with a record of 7-7-0 from 18 starts and career earnings of $3,044,000. His advertised fee for the 2018 breeding season was $12,500.
Also taking home the first black-type win for her sire Saturday was Atchata, a 2-year-old daughter of Apriority. Competing in the filly division of the D.S. Shine Young Futurity for Louisiana-breds, she dueled for the lead and kicked away in the lane to win by 6 1/2 lengths.
The win was the second in three starts for the bay filly, who debuted May 24 on grass for trainer Steve Asmussen. She finished third in that maiden special weight debut at Belmont Park. Atchata won next time out going six furlongs on the Belmont inner turf but was switched to the dirt for the Futurity.
Bred in Florida out of the Storm Bird mare Midway Squall, Apriority was his best at 4, when he won the Mr Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park for trainer David Fawkes. The Donald Dizney homebred started 36 times and retired at 7 with a record of 6-9-3 and earnings of $525,829.
The son of Grand Slam entered stud in 2015 at Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana, where he stands for a fee of $2,000.
Entries for both divisions of the 2018 D. S. Shine Young Futurities close today June 29 at Evangeline Downs.
There is one division for two-year-old Louisiana Breds colts and geldings, and one division for two-year-old Louisiana Bred fillies. Both races will run on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at a distance of 5 1/2 furlongs for purses of $75,000.
READY PROSPECTOR STRIKES GOLD IN THE COLT DIVISION
SHE’SCREATIVE TRIUMPHANT IN THE FILLIES DIVISION
Ready Prospector wins the Colt and Gelding Division of the 2017 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity. Coady Photography
D.S. Shine Young Futurity
Colt and Gelding Division
Evangeline Downs, 7-29-17, 5 1/2 furlongs, dirt
2YO colts and geldings, Purse $75,000
READY PROSPECTOR
Custom for Carlos–Vera Belle, by Not For Love
Breeder: Virginia Lazenby
Owner: Virginia Lazenby Racing Stable LLC
Trainer: Oscar Modica
Jockey: Gerard Melancon
2nd I Want A Picture
Redding Colliery–Bond’s Babe, by Johannesburg
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Flurry Racing Stables LLC
Trainer: J. R. Caldwell
Jockey: Danny Sorenson
3rd Cajun Creed
Jimmy Creed–Surprise Squall, by Stephen Got Even
Breeder: Danny M. Brown & Donna B. Brown
Owner: Horseplayers Racing Club LLC
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Roberto Morales
OPELOUSAS, LA – Virginia Lazenby Racing Stable’s Ready Prospector was able to survive an early speed duel and then withstand a furious charge from the favored I Want a Picture to prevail in the $75,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity for Colts & Geldings on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.
Ready Prospector was sent right up into the fray by jockey Gerard Melancon at the start and engaged with another longshot in Piranha Tough through solid early fractions of 22.02 for the quarter-mile and 46.04 for the half-mile. When the field entered the stretch, Ready Prospector had put away Piranha Tough, holding a 3-1/2 length lead, but the 9-5 favorite, I Want a Picture came running in the final furlong and just came up a head short. Ready Prospector finished the 5-1/2 furlongs in a final time of 1:05.46 over the wet-fast racetrack.
A 10-1 longshot, Ready Prospector, returned $22.60 to win, $8.40 to place and $5.40 to show. I Want a Picture paid $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show, while Cajun Creed rallied for third and returned $2.80 to show.
Ready Prospector scored the first win of his brief career in the “Shine” Young Futurity. He was bred in Louisiana by Virginia Lazenby and is trained by Oscar Modica. The maiden-breaking win earned Ready Prospector the $45,000 first-place purse and increased his lifetime earnings to $50,200. He is a two-year-old gelding by Custom for Carlos and out of the Not For Love mare, Vera Belle.
She’screative wins the Filly Division of the 2017 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity. Coady Photography
SHE’SCREATIVE
Creative Cause–She’s a Rebel Too
Breeder: T L Holyfield Racing Stable LLC
Owner: Thomas L. Holyfield
Trainer: J. R. Caldwell
Jockey: Dusty Ryder Shepherd
3rd Born to D’ Wild
D’wildcat–Jasmine Gardens, by Mineshaft
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms, LLC
Owner: Brava Stables LLC
Trainer: Patrick Devereux, Jr.
Jockey: Diego Saenz
The fillies division of the $75,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity was also run on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The original field of twelve was scratched down to six and the best of that half-dozen was She’screative. The filly assumed the lead shortly after the start and led through a quarter-mile of 22.31 seconds and a half-mile of 46.19 seconds. She received a challenge from Eye Craft, who briefly took the lead in the stretch. However, She’screative re-rallied on the rail to win by 2-1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:06.53 for the 5-1/2 furlongs.
She’screative was the even-money favorite in the “Shine” Young Futurity and returned $4 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Eye Craft paid $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Born to D’wild paid $2.60 to show.
She’screative is a 2-year-old filly bred in Louisiana by T.L. Holyfield Racing Stable, LLC. She is owned by Thomas L. Holyfield, trained by J.R. Caldwell and was ridden to victory by Dusty Shepherd. Her record is now a perfect two-for-two and the $45,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $60,600. She’screative is by Creative Cause and out of the Two Punch mare, She’s a Rebel Too.
For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
You must be logged in to post a comment.