Lafayette Stakes
Evangeline Downs, 6-23-28, 7 furlongs, $50,000
3YO Accredited Louisiana Breds

AUTUMN WARRIOR
Orb-Kinsolving
Breeder: Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables, Inc.
Owner: Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables, Inc.
Trainer: Al Stall, Jr
Jockey: C. J. Hernandez

2nd
O’L Red
Songandaprayer-Tommeyesgold
Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson
Owner: Cool Breeze Racing
Trainer: Dwight J. Viator
Jockey: Kevin J. Smith

3rd
Discreetly D
Discreetly Mine-Evening Muse
Breeder: Michael Villar & Cynthia Villar
Owner: Set Hut LLC
Trainer: Jerry Delhomme
Jockey: T. Thornton

The $50,000 Lafayette Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds took place on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs and the winner was the even-money wagering favorite, Autumn Warrior. The gelding was engaged in a speed duel through the early stakes with O’L Red, as that pair posted swift fractions of 22.21 seconds for the quarter-mile and 44.73 for the half-mile. Once in the stretch, however, Autumn Warrior easily dispatched O’L Red and surged to a 6-3/4 lengths victory in a final time of 1:24.19 for the seven furlongs.

Autumn Warrior paid $4.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. O’L Red returned $3 to place and $2.40 to show and Discreetly D paid $3.60 to show.

Autumn Warrior was bred in Louisiana by the owners Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables Inc., is trained by Al Stall, Jr. and was ridden to victory by Colby Hernandez. The 3-year-old gelding is by 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, Orb, and is out of the Posse mare, Kinsolving. He is now two-for-two in his career and the $30,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $43,200.