LTBA Announces 2022 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions
Category: Net a Bear
TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS
2022 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Annual Awards Banquet Honoring the 2021 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions and their Connections
LOUISIANA LEGENDS
by Chad Cooper
A huge crowd convened June 4 at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas for the annual Louisiana Legends Night – a night of racing that is dedicated to the best fourlegged athletes in the Pelican State, which included six states races worth more than $450,000 in purse money. Jockey Jareth Loveberry and trainer Ron Faucheux teamed up to win two trophies while others continued to strive for greatness.
THE DRAW FOR LOUISIANA CUP DAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, JULY 30
Solid Nominations for the Six Stakes for Louisiana Thoroughbreds
Bossier City, LA – The momentum is building for Louisiana Cup Day on Saturday, August 6 at Louisiana Downs with post time set for 1:45 pm (Central). Plenty of activities are planned for the day that salutes Louisiana Thoroughbreds. Seven races will be contested including six stakes, all with purses of $67,000. The draw for the six features on Louisiana Cup Day will take place on Saturday, July 30. The stakes are as follows:
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred 5 ½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred 5 ½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
Trainer Allen Landry Pointing Five Including Net a Bear to Cup Day
Each of the Louisiana racetracks host a stakes day saluting Louisiana Thoroughbreds. Last Saturday, was Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs. One very familiar Louisiana-bred mare, Net a Bear did not disappoint as the favorite in the $75,000 Turf Distaff. With Tim Thornton aboard, the 6-year-old daughter of Awesome Bet made her usual late run and drew off tin the one-mile turf stakes, winning by 1 ¼ lengths.
Bred by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll, Net a Bear is owned by Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro and trained by Allen Landry.Since she began her career in 2018, the bay mare, versatile on turf or dirt, has won 12 of her 33 lifetime starts and following the victory at Evangeline Downs, upped her earnings to $615,970. Her first stakes win came at Louisiana Downs when she captured the 2019 Elge Rasberry and she was a convincing winning last year in the Louisiana Cup Distaff. Remarkably, Net a Bear has been a stakes winner at each of the four Louisiana racetracks and will defend her title in the Louisiana Cup Day Distaff.
“She’s tough as hell,” said Landry. “Even when she gets in trouble, she gets clear and gives it her all. She just has an incredible turn of foot!”
He likes his chances with Vodka Gimlet for owner Ellen Epstein in the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic and feels that World War IV Racing’s Ranch Water is poised for a good effort in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile.
“He won his first time out, despite breaking in the air and getting shuffled back” explained Landry. “When he circled the field and came running, we thought he had something special.”
Landry has been prominent on Louisiana Cup, with victories by Chu Chu’s Legacy in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile and Rodney Verret’s Laughingsaintssong who won the Louisiana Cup Day Sprint in 2019 and 2020.
“We just ran him for a tag on July 25,” said Landry. “He’s getting older, but ran a game third.”
But no chance of Landry dropping Net a Bear anytime in her racing career.
“We plan on running her through the end of the year and then she will be pointed to her second career as a broodmare,” he stated.
Free Like a Girl to Return in the Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
2021 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) Champion 2-year-old filly Free Like a Girl will return to Louisiana Downs on Cup Day to run in the six-furlong Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Her unique story began when she was in foal to a mare named Flashy Prize. Retired jockey Kim Renee Stover and her sister, Lisa Osborne were able to purchase the mare for just $500. She foaled at Stover’s farm in Starks, Louisiana on February 24, 2019.
Free Like a Girl was sent to Carl Deville and his daughter, Chasey Deville Pomier and began her racing career for owner Gerald Bruno, Jr., running second in open company at Lone Star Park.
On July 9 at Evangeline Downs, Free Like a Girl notched her first win. Pedro Cotto, Jr. had the call and has remained her rider to date. Despite a poor break in the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Fillies on August 21 at Louisiana Downs, in which she spotted her rivals by ten lengths, she rallied for third. Free Like a Girl sparkled in the $60,000 D.S. Shine Young Futurity on September 21 at Evangeline Downs and won back-to back stakes at Delta Downs. She dominated nine rivals in the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel on October 22 and scored another impressive victory one month later in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat Stakes.
Her final two starts of 2021 came at Fair Grounds where she ran second in the $100,000 Louisiana Lassie on Champions Day. But she left no doubt as to who was best 2-year-old filly the $109,600 Louisiana Futurity. The bay filly quickly took command, extending her lead andcrossing the wire of the six furlong feature by 6 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:11.11.
Free Like a Girl began her 3-year-old campaign on February 5 with a gate-to-wire romp on Louisiana Premier Day at Delta Downs, winning the $100,000 Starlet by four lengths. Her connections sent her to Oaklawn Park where she ran fourth in the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee on February 26 to the much heralded Secret Oath.
“There were people who disagreed with her running outside of Louisiana, but she deserved a chance,” said Stover. “We were not embarrassed.”
After winning the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree at Evangeline Downs, Free Like a Girl ran a credible third in the $225,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) on July 9 at Prairie Meadows.
Free Like a Girl has won seven of her 14 starts and has already banked $423,873 for owners Gerald Bruno, Jr; Carl J, Deville; Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom.
“She came out of the race well and we are looking forward to running her at Louisiana Downs,” said Stover.
Louisiana Cup Day Festivities
Racing fans of all ages are invited to enjoy the festivities offered on August 6 at Louisiana Downs.
Family-friendly activities on the trackside apron include live music, inflatable bounce houses and water slides, face painting, and much more! Also, enjoy tasty bites from the city’s best food trucks. And don’t forget to claim your FREE $5 wager while you are there!
Handicapping Preview Show Begins at Noon on Cup Day
Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a pre-race handicapping preview at 12:00 pm in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. They will offer analysis and their selections for each of the races on the Louisiana Cup Day card. The seminar is free and open to all racing fans.
Scholarship Drawings Set for Louisiana Cup Day
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) will award two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The drawings will take place after the fifth race. The races begin at 1:45 p.m. and the student must be there to register between 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. at the designated registration booth. The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Fall 2022.
Must be in good standing with the college or university.
Must be present at the drawing location to win.
Must have university ID number or Social Security number.
The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
Trainer, Jockey and Owner Leaderboard
As of July 27, Shane Wilson, who was honored as 2021 Louisiana Down leading trainer, continues to top his fellow conditioners with 35wins and an impressive 64% in the money stat. Joey Foster and Greg Tracy have both saddled 20 winners with Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen in fourth place with 15 wins.
Last year’s leading jockey Carlos Lozada moved into a tie for first place in the jockey standings with Jose Guerrero. Both riders have won 55 wins since the meet began on May 7. Joel Dominguez and Alexander Castillo are tied for third with 21 wins each. Vincente Del-Cid follows with 19 wins.
Emanuel Nieves was injured two weeks ago and underwent successful surgery on July 25 to repair his broken right arm. He was in third place with 29 victories prior to the spill. We wish him a speedy recovery!
Wayne T. Davis is the leading owner with 13 wins to date. Greg Tracy is second with 10 top finishes and End Zone Athletics, Inc. Asmussen and Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC are tied for third with six wins each.
The 2022 Thoroughbred meet at Louisiana Downs began on May 7 with live racing each Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The 84-day live racing season will conclude on September 27.
About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is now owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.
NET A BEAR RALLIES IN FINAL YARDS TO WIN THE $60,000 OPELOUSAS STAKES
ALLEN LANDRY TRAINEE PICKS UP SECOND STAKES VICTORY OF THE SEASON
OPELOUSAS, LA –Racegoers enjoying the Family Night activities at Evangeline Downs witnessed Net a Bear pick up another stakes victory in the $60,000 Opelousas Stakes on Friday night. The Allen Landry trainee was a winner of the Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff in her most recent start. The one-mile race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, originally scheduled for the turf, was contested over a main track rendered sloppy by persistent afternoon rains.
Lady Valentine was away sharpest from her inside post and set out to an early lead, with Splenda Gail and favored Quin Ella in close pursuit. Net a Bear and jockey Tim Thornton were away in good order and settled into stride towards the back of the field of seven runners. Lady Valentine was allowed to set comfortable fractions of an opening quarter-mile in 24.07 and a half-mile in 47.81. Moving into the far turn Quinn Ella edged forward past Splenda Gail to put some pressure on Lady Valentine, while Net a Bear was steadily gaining on the leaders while saving ground with an inside trip.
Through six furlongs in 1:12.92, Quinn Ella moved to the lead at the top of the lane outside of Lady Valentine. Net a Bear was angled out from the rail to the middle of the track to commence her stretch winning drive. In the final sixteenth of a mile, Lady Valentine had battled back to retake the lead from Quinn Ella but was not able to hold off Net a Bear in the final yards. Net a Bear’s winning margin was a neck over Lady Valentine, with Quinn Ella another 1-1/2 lengths back in third. The running time for the mile was 1:39.52.
Owned by Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro, Net a Bear earned $36,000 for the victory. The win is the 13th from 35 career starts and increased her lifetime earnings to $651,970.
The 6-year-old mare was bred in Louisiana by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll. Sired by Awesome Bet, the bay mare is out of the Eddington mare Edacious Reality.
Net a Bear returned $6.10 as the slight second-choice in the wagering to win, $3.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Lady Valentine was worth $8.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Quinn Ella paid $2.60 to show.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 5:30pm first post. The featured event is the $60,000 John Henry Stakes. The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs on a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule until August 27.
EVANGELINE DOWNS WELCOMES LARGE CROWD FOR LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT
TRAINER RON FAUCHEUX AND JOCKEY JARETH LOVEBERRY TEAM UP FOR TWO STAKES VICTORIES
OPELOUSAS, LA –Evangeline Downs hosted the annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds with an exciting Louisiana Legends Night card on Saturday. A large crowd was on hand for the night of stakes action that included six stakes races each worth $75,000 for state-bred runners. Pleasant weather greeted race goers and the races were contested over tracks rated fast and firm.
Maga Man displayed a new dimension by sitting off the early speed and rallying to a thrilling victory in the $75,000 Turf. Normally a runner found battling for the lead, jockey Joe Stokes was able to get Maga Man to settle off the hot early pace being fought by Forestdungone, Mangelsen and Behemah Star through snappy fractions of 23.21, 47.28 and 1:11.63. Maga Man was ready to launch a four-wide rally at the top of the lane and engaged the leaders as they reached the furlong marker. While Behemah Star continued to battle on as the only survivor of the early pace, Jaci’s Royalty and City Park were closing from the back of the pack. Trained by Norman Miller, III, Maga Man was able to dig in and prevailed in a finish that saw the first four finishers separated by less than a combined length.
Maga Man stopped the clock in 1:43.33 over the 1-1/16 mile distance with the official winning margin of ½-length over Jaci’s Royalty. It was a head back to third place finisher Behemah Star and a nose to City Park in fourth. Maga Man defends his title in the Legends Turf, although last year’s running was contested over a sloppy main track.
Owned by Norman Miller IV, Maga Man returned $17.20 to his backers, $9.20 to place and $5.60 to show. Jaci’s Royalty paid $8.20 and $6, with Behemah Star paying $4.60 to show. The winning purse pushed the career totals for Maga Man to 10 victories in 39 career starts and $369,880 in earnings.
Bred by Steven Renshaw, Maga Man is a 7-year-old gelded gray/roan son of Musket Man, out of the Pulling Punches mare Lew’s Gray.
Free Like a Girl ran like a solid favorite is expected to do in her victory over 3-year-old fillies in the $75,000 Soiree. After breaking a little awkwardly, jockey Pedro Cotto, Jr. was able to get Free Like a Girl into a comfortable position just off the early leader Beleout. Trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, Free Like a Girl ranged up to challenge the leader moving past the quarter-mile pole and opened up a comfortable margin moving past the furlong pole. Wholelottamo was steadily gaining ground in a runner-up effort but could not threaten the winner. The winning margin for Free Like a Girl was 1-1/4 lengths, with another 7-3/4 lengths to the third-place finisher First I’ve Seen. The winner covered the mile distance in a time of 1:39.41
Sired by El Deal, the bay filly is out of the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize and was bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne. The victory was her seventh from 13 career starts and the winning purse pushed her career total to $401,473.
Owned by Gerald Bruno Jr., Carl J. Deville, Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom, Free Like a Girl returned $3 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Wholelottamo paid $3 to place, $2.20 to show and First I’ve Seen paid $2.20 to show.
Kendel Standlee’s Big Chopper was hustled to the front and never looked back in his victory in the $75,000 Cheval. Jockey C.J. McMahon had his mount away alertly from the gate and settled into stride setting fractions of 24.01, 47.83 and 1:11.93 before stopping the clock in 1:37.71 for the mile distance. Vodka Gimlet was in range throughout but could not get past the determined winner. Favored Touchuponastar, off a very impressive maiden victory, was chasing the eventual victor from the outset and faded to third. Trained by Scott Gelner, Big Chopper’s winning margin was ½-length, with another length separating the second and third finishers.
Bred by the owner, the 3-year-old is by Shackleford and is out of the Unusual Heat mare Miss Well Molded. The winning purse pushed his career total to $130,480 with his third victory from eight career starts.
Big Chopper returned $13.80 to his backers for a win ticket, $6.20 to place and $3.80 to show. Vodka Gimlet returned $4.60 to place and $2.60 to show, with Touchuponastar paying $2.80 to show.
Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro’s Net a Bear returned to her winning ways on the grass with an impressive victory in the $75,000 Turf Distaff. Jockey Tim Thornton and Net a Bear were unhurried early sitting in fifth position early as longshot Sumitup raced away to an open lengths lead. World War and Great in Red were the first to collar the leader moving into the far turn as the leader gave way after fractions of 23.63 and 48.15. Through six furlongs in 1:12.26, Net a Bear was shuffled back in some traffic and had to wait for some running room. As the field straightened away in the lane, the Allen Landry trainee found clear running room and rushed past the leaders to win by 1-1/4 lengths. World War fought on to finish second a head in front of Great in Red. The winner stopped the timer in 1:36.91.
Bred by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll, Net a Bear was sired by Awesome Bet and is out of the Eddington mare Edacious Reality. Winning for the twelfth time in 33 career starts, the $45,000 winning purse pushed her career earnings to $615,970.
The favorite in the wagering, Net a Bear paid $3.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. World War paid $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Great in Red returned $2.80 to show.
Trainer Ron Faucheux and jockey Jareth Loveberry teamed up for their first of two stakes victories as Fame Feather won the $75,000 Mademoiselle. Winning for the first time over the main track, Fame Feather rallied from off the pace to win the 5-1/2 furlong sprint. Settling off swift early fractions of 21.90 and 45.58 seconds set by Lady Hopper, the Picard Thoroughbreds Racing Stable LLC (Dawn and Jeffrey Picard) runner commenced a rally two wide on the turn and rallied to pull away for a one length victory over Spirited Beauty, a half-length ahead of Snowball who rallied late for a third-place finish. The winner stopped the timer in 1:04.49.
Bred by Ramona Pierce, Fame Feather is a 7-year-old chestnut mare sired by Lion Tamer, out of the Indian Charlie mare Pretty Indian. Winning for the seventh time in 25 career starts, the winner’s share increased her career bankroll to $274,330.
Fame Feather returned a welcome $21.20 to win for her backers, $7.80 to place and $5 to show. Spirited Beauty paid $4.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Snowball returned $3 to show.
Faucheux and Loveberry found the winner’s circle again as Bertie’s Galaxy defended his title in the $75,000 Sprint. Sharp away from the gate, Bertie’s Galaxy was quickly in charge leading by a length through an opening quarter in 21.86 seconds with Black Sword and Yankee Seven chasing their familiar rival. Turning for home in a half-mile in 44.63 seconds, the Allen Cassedy runner extended the lead to two lengths and was clear at the wire. The winning margin was 2-1/4 lengths over a late closing Creole Charlie and it was another 1-1/2 lengths back to Takes Two to Tango in third. Bertie’s Galaxy stopped the clock in 1:03.52 for the 5-1/2 furlong distance.
Bertie’s Galaxy was bred by Margie Averett and the 6-year-old chestnut gelding is by Greeley’s Galaxy out of the Wild Rush mare Wild Bertie.
Off as the favorite, Bertie’s Galaxy returned $6.60 as a popular victor, $4.60 to place and $4 to show. Creole Charlie was worth $12.60 to place and $8 to show. Takes Two to Tango returned $5.60 to show. The winning share pushed the career bankroll of Bertie’s Galaxy to $442,850. The victory was the eleventh from 25 career starts.
For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.comand on Twitter @evdracing. Live racing resumes Wednesday with a 5:30pm Central first post. The racing calendar for 2022 is a Wednesday through Saturday schedule until the end of the meet on August 27.
2021 Accredited Louisiana-Bred Champions
Clear Skies; Louisiana Premier Stakes
The 19th running of Louisiana Premier Day at Delta Downs on Feb. 5 couldn’t have been scripted out any better. With clear skies and a cool breeze, the 11-race program featured 10 stakes races and more than $900,000 in total purse money for Louisiana-bred horses who were vying for hoof-pounding greatness. Not only was the weather picture perfect, but the betting handle soared to $3,075,587, which was nearly $800,000 more than last year’s soirée.
Net a Bear Reasserts Her Dominance Winning Red Camelia
Formful Fort Polk doesn’t give an inch, but settles for second
New Orleans, LA (March 5, 2022) In a workmanlike performance, Maximo Lamarche and Frederico Deltoro’s Net a Bear bested her three rivals in the 46th running of the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes, reasserting her claim yet again as the top Louisiana-bred mare. A versatile 6-year-old who keeps getting better, Net a Bear is now perfect from three starts in 2022. Always ready and willing for trainer Allen Landry, Net a Bear followed up a dirt score in the Premier Distaff at Delta Downs with Saturday’s win on turf.
“She pretty much does whatever you ask,” Allen Landry said. “She is in fine form.”
Traveling a mile over the Stall-Wilson turf course, the odds-on .60-1 favorite Net a Bear tracked the leading pair, while 3.40-1 Offspring’s front-running bid did little to discourage 3.90-1 Fort Polk from tightly pressing less than a length off the 24.47 and 48.84 early calls. Fort Polk took over off the second turn and held the advantage into the stretch, while Net a Bear loomed, gearing up for her late kick down the center of the course. She slowly grinded by Fort Polk late, winning by ¾ of a length and stopping the timer in 1:40.65 with the rail eight feet out on a firm course. It was another four lengths back to Offspring in third and Blessed Anna finished last of the four.
Jockey Colby Hernandez took his first spin aboard Net a Bear, following Landry’s instructions to a T.
“He (Landry) told me not to let her fall too far out of it and don’t rush her up,” Hernandez said. “She broke into a good spot. Down the lane she switched leads and went about her business getting the win.”
Landry has had the 6-year-old mare by Awesome Bet in his barn since the beginning. He notched her fourth win in seven turf starts at Fair Grounds, including the 2020 Red Camelia. Net a Bear now has a lifetime record of 31-11-6-6 with $561,670 in the bank.
LTBA Announces 2021 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions
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