Category: Evangeline Downs

Saturday Race to Honor Billie Jo Courville

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Evangeline Downs has named the first race on the Saturday, June 11th card in honor of Billie Jo Courville. Billie Jo had been a long time employee of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, serving breeders at the Evangeline Downs office from February 2004 until her recent death this past February. Her brightness of spirit and smiling face are missed by all who knew her.
The Billie Joe Courville Memorial Race is scheduled to be the first race on Saturday’s card with a post time of 5:50 p.m. There will also be a presentation in the winners circle.

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.

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.

COUCHE COUCHE CRUISES TO VICTORY IN THE EQUINE SALES DERBY

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GELDING PICKS UP SECOND STAKES WIN OF EVANGELINE DOWNS SEASON

The Equine Sales Derby
Evangeline Downs, May 7, 2016
1 1/16 Miles, for 3-Year-Olds, $75,000

COUCHE COUCHE
Pulling Punches-Sassy Belle, by Doc’s Leader
Breeder: Charles Titsworth
Owner: Jerry Namy
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Colby Hernandez

Time: 1:44.37
Margins: 2 1/2, 3,6 1/2

2nd: Ganges

3rd: Drummer Boy

OPELOUSAS, LA- Jerry Namy’s Couche Couche lived up to his heavy favoritism at 1-5 and won the $75,000 Equine Sales Derby on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The win is the second stakes score of the season for Couche Couche, a Karl Broberg trainee who had previously won the $50,000 Ragin Cajun Stakes on April 9.

 

Couche Couche was unhurried early on by jockey Colby Hernandez, who allowed him to settle at the rail and save ground while Drummer Boy and Ganges set fast fractions of 22.42 for the quarter-mile and 46.79 for the half-mile. Couche Couche began to advance as the field entered the far turn and made a three-wide rally to take the lead as the field entered the stretch. He drew away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:44.37 for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast track.

 

Couche Couche paid $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Ganges came home second, paying $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Drummer Boy was third and returned $2.60 to show.

 

The win by Couche Couche is his third in five lifetime starts and he earned $45,000 for the victory, increasing his total lifetime earnings to $108,230. The 3-year-old gelding was bred in Louisiana by Charles Titsworth. He is by Pulling Punches and out of the Doc’s Leader mare, Sassy Belle.

 

 

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 atwww.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.


LIL ALLIE DANCER STEPS HER WAY TO WIN THE EQUINE SALES OAKS

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3-2 WAGERING FAVORITE RALLIES IN STRETCH TO SCORE

Equine Sales Oaks
Evangeline Downs, May 6, 2016
1 1/16 miles, for 3-Year-Old Fillies , $75,000

Lil Allie Dancer
Good and Tough-Native Gate, by Gate Dancer
Breeder:  Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson
Owner:  Chance Yelverton
Trainer:  Sam Breaux
Jockey: Diego Saenz

Time: 1:48.24
Margins: 1 3/4, nk, 6

2nd: Flashy Appeal

3rd: Gussie’s Girl

 

OPELOUSAS, LA- Chance Yelverton’s Lil Allie Dancer thundered through the stretch to get past the pacesetters and win the $75,000 Equine Sales Oaks at Evangeline Downs on Friday night. Lil Allie Dancer came through for her first career stakes win, which was a significant improvement over a sixth-place finish in her other stakes try earlier this season in the $50,000 Cajun Miss.

 

Lil Allie Dancer was sixth early on in the Equine Sales Oaks, sitting comfortably behind a three-horse scrum for the lead involving Gussie’s Girl, Rush To Judgement, and Flashy Appeal. That trio set a decent enough pace, going 24.28 for the quarter-mile and 49.45 for the half-mile. Doin A Happy Dance, the co-second choice with Flashy Appeal, made a strong move on the far turn to loom outside the leaders, but would flatten out in the stretch. Lil Allie Dancer started to roll as the field entered the stretch and closed strongly to notch a 1-3/4 length victory in a final time of 1:41.57 for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast track.

 

Lil Allie Dancer paid $5.00 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. Flashy Appeal finished second, returning $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Gussie’s Girl was third and paid $6.00 to show.

 

The win for Lil Allie Dancer was her fourth in five lifetime starts and the $45,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $121,400. Diego Saenz was aboard for the victory and the filly is trained by Sam Breaux. She is a 3-year-old bred in Louisiana by Tom Curtis and Wayne Simpson. Lil Allie Dancer is by Good And Tough and is out of the Gate Dancer mare, Native Gate Dancer.

 

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 atwww.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

 

Equine Sales Company 2YO In Training Sale; 101 Catalogued; Breeze Show to be Streamed Live

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EQUINE SALES COMPANY

 

2016 TWO YEAR OLD IN TRAINING SALE

WITH RACE AGE HORSES

101 CATALOGED

SALE DATE: MAY 10, 2016 – 11:00 AM

BREEZE SHOW: MAY 8, 2016 – 10:00 AM

 

The BREEZE SHOW will be streamed live on Sunday, May 8, 2016.  You can view it by clicking the following link.

http://www.horseshowwebcasts.com/shows/2016/27027/index.shtml

 

Equine Sales Company would like to invite you to attend the Breeze Show which will be held on Sunday, May 8, 2016, beginning at 10:00 o’clock AM. The sale horses will work on Copper Crowne Training Center’s state of the art training track which is licensed by the Louisiana State Racing Commission. There will be a viewing stand and teletimer located at the finish line for your comfort and convenience. Refreshments will be available.

 

Dilion Video will have the works available for viewing late Sunday afternoon and will continue playing throughout the day, in the Equine Sales Company pavilion located at 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas, LA. They will also be available on the internet at http://www.equinesalesofla.com and on a CD that you can pick up for your personal use.

EQUINE SALES OAKS to be run Friday, May 6, 2016 and EQUINE SALES DERBY to be run Saturday, May 7, 2016 at EVANGELINE DOWNS RACETRACK

Equine Sales Company would like to wish all of the connections in the running of these two races the best of luck.

All two year olds that pass through the 2016 Two Year Old in Training Sale will be eligible for the 2017 Equine Sales Oaks and the Equine Sales Derby.

EVANGELINE DOWNS RACETRACK AND CASINO AND EQUINE SALES COMPANY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND OUR PRE-SALE PARTY TO BE HELD AT EVANGELINE DOWNS RACETRACK & CASINO IN MOJO’S SPORTS BAR

DATE:  MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

TIME: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Hors d’ oeures will be served * CASH bar

Videos of the Breeze Show held on Saturday, May 8, 2016, will be played during the party.

 

2016 September Yearling Sale will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Consignment contracts are available on our website at www.equinesalesofla.com

or 2016 Consignor Select Yearling consignment contract.

 

 

Benwill Scores Upset Victory in John Henry Stakes

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John Henry S.
April 23, 2016
1 1/16 miles, Turf, for 3-Year-Olds and Upwards, $60,000

Benwill 
Leestown-Dynaspice, by Dynaformer
Breeder: E. O. Pickett
Owner: Royce Roberts
Trainer: Jose Mendez
Jockey: John Jacinto
Time: 1:45.03
Margins: 1, 2 1/4, 1 2nd: Easy Crossing 3rd: Next Event

OPELOUSAS, LA- Royce Roberts’ Benwill made a decisive move in the stretch of the $60,000 John Henry Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night to win by a length under the ride of John Jacinto. It was a reversal of fortune for the Jose Mendez trainee, who had not won a race since winning the Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs in September 2014 following a disqualification.

Benwill sat sixth in the field of nine during the early stages of the race, behind the pace-setting pair of Solitary Ranger and Next Event. That twosome carved out solid fractions of 23.51 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.42 seconds for the half-mile. The betting favorite, Easy Crossing, had sat just off the pace before making his move on the far turn. He and Next Event went on to run together until mid-stretch where Benwill found the running room he needed to storm by both of them and win in a final time of 1:45.03 for the 1 1/16. 

Benwill paid $48.60 to win, $12.60 to place and $7.60 to show. Easy Crossing came home second, returning $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Next Event held third and paid $4.20 to show.

The victory by Benwill in the John Henry Stakes was the eighth in his 31-race career. The $36,000 first-place purse pushed his lifetime earnings to $281,663. The 7-year-old horse was bred in Louisiana by E.O. Pickett. Benwill was sired by Leestown and is out of the Dynaformer mare, Dynaspice.

Evangeline Downs will resume live racing on Wednesday evening with a 9-race program. The program will include a Super Hi 5 carry-over of $5,058.70 in the fifth race, which will be the first of three Super Hi 5 wagers offered on the card. Post time on Wednesday will be 5:50 pm Central time.

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.

 

EVD TO OFFER EXPANDED SUPER HI 5 WAGERING STARTING APRIL 20

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CARRY-OVER WAGER WILL BE AVAILABLE THREE TIMES EACH NIGHT

OPELOUSAS, LA- Evangeline Downs will be offering the 50-cent minimum Super Hi 5 wager three times each racing night, starting on Wednesday, April 20. This will be an expansion of the number of opportunities to play this wager for the betting public, as the Super Hi 5 is currently offered only once per racing night.

The Super Hi 5 will be available at Evangeline Downs in the fifth race, the seventh race and the final race on each racing program. The wager is available only in the fifth race at the present time. The Super Hi 5 is a 50-cent minimum wager that requires the bettor to correctly select the first five finishers in exact order in the race where the wager is offered. If no bettor is able to correctly select the first five finishers in exact order in a Super Hi 5 race, then 100% of the pool will carry-over into the next race where the wager is offered. The pool will also carry-over from one racing day to the next, if necessary. It is the only carryover wager currently offered without a consolation payout, in accordance with Louisiana state law.

Chris Warren, Evangeline Downs Director of Racing, feels that this change will make the Evangeline Downs racing signal more attractive to the betting public, “Bettors are always searching for opportunities to hit it big at the races and by expanding the number of times Evangeline Downs is offering the Super Hi 5, we hope to entice our fans who are looking for their next big score.”

Evangeline Downs has live Thoroughbred racing each Wednesday through Saturday night through

Saturday, August 27. Post time for each live racing night is 5:50 pm Central time.

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 http://www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

 

COUCHE COUCHE SCORES AN UPSET WIN IN THE RAGIN’ CAJUN

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LONGSHOT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF FAST PACE FOR COMEBACK WIN

Rajin Cajun S.
April 9, 2016
7 furlongs, for 3-Year-Olds, $50,000

COUCHE COUCHE
Pulling Punches-Sassy Belle, by Doc’s Leader
Breeder: Charles Titsworth
Owner: Rodney J. Verret
Trainer: Allen Landry
Jockey:S. J. Bourque

Time: 1:23.85
Margins: 7 3/4, 3 1/4, nk

2nd: Si Familia

3rd: Bill’s Production

 

OPELOUSAS, LA- Rodney Verret’s gelding Couche Couche picked a fine time for his first career win over a dirt surface, rolling from off a blistering pace to register a 15-1 upset victory in the $50,000 Ragin’

Cajun Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night. Steve Bourque was aboard for the win by the Allen Landry trainee.

Couche Couche sat well off the pacesetting Smoothmoney at the rear of the field, as Smoothmoney set torrid fractions of 21.84 seconds for the quarter-mile and 44.46 for the half-mile. Bill’s Production, a 7-1 shot, tried to circle the field on the far turn with an aggressive charge, while the 7-5 favorite, Greeley’s Wish came up the rail into contention. They were noses apart at the top of the stretch, but Couche Couche came storming down the outside and flew past them, drawing away to a crushing 7 3/4 length victory in a final time of 1:23.85 seconds for the seven furlongs over the fast main track.

Couche Couche has now finished in-the-money in all four lifetime starts with two victories, a second and a third. His other career win came in a maiden-breaking turf sprint at the Fair Grounds on February 25.

He earned $30,000 for his victory on Saturday night, increasing his career earnings to $63,230.

Couche Couche paid $32.60 to win, $10.00 to place and $6.80 to show. Si Familia rallied from last on the backstretch to finish second, paying $13.40 to place and $6.20 to show. Bill’s Production held third and returned $4.80 to show.

Couche Couche is a 3-year-old by Pulling Punches out of the Doc’s Leader mare, Sassy Belle. The chestnut gelding was bred in Louisiana by Charles Titsworth.

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 http://www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at

http://www.boydgaming.com, or http://www.evangelinedowns.com.