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MIRABEAU AND CHU CHU’S LEGACY WIN BIG IN THE “SHINE” YOUNG FUTURITY AT EVANGELINE DOWNS

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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 - The DS Shine Young Futurity
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 - The DS Shine Young Futurity
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.

Old Friends Launches Memorabilia Auction

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Old Friends is launching an online auction series that will feature pieces from a private collection of racing memorabilia.  The auction series is a collaboration between Old Friends and the estate of Julie Albright, a longtime racing supporter and collector, and will be highlighted by original saddle cloths, collectible stallion halters, horse shoes, tickets, programs and much more from some of America’s most accomplished equine athletes. A portion of the sale proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization.

The first in the series of online auctions will launch Aug. 30 at 6 pm and sales will be offered weekly throughout the fall via the Old Friends eBay store.

Louisiana Horsemen Assess Storm Damage

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Louisiana horsemen were spending the morning of Aug. 27 checking in on one another and assessing any damage after Hurricane Laura battered the state’s coastline overnight.

Karl Broberg, who has finished as the leading trainer by wins in North America multiple times, said his farm near Delta Downs in Vinton, La., sustained heavy damage but no workers or horses were injured. He said there was significant flooding, but the turned-out horses were fine on higher ground.

“It’s draining pretty fast, but there’s still about a foot of water on some parts of the property,” Broberg said. “There’s extensive damage, but all things considered, we’re alright. It just seems that we’re seeing more and more of these powerful hurricanes.”

According to multiple news outlets, the hurricane was listed as a Category 4 storm as it reached landfall near Lake Charles, La., and as of 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27 a number of news sites said the storm was still at Category 2 level as it traveled inland.

Read BloodHorse Article

Delta Downs Suffers Serious Damage in Hurricane, Opening to be Postponed

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By Bill Finley

While no horses or people suffered major injuries as a result of Hurricane Laura, the storm produced serious damage to Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana, leaving the facility in such bad shape that its director of racing operations Chris Warren said there was no chance the track would be able to begin its Thoroughbred meet on time.

“This meet is supposed to start Oct. 6. That isn’t going to happen,” Warren said. “There’s no way. When it will happen, I have no idea.”

“There’s debris and sheet metal everywhere,” he said. “The tote board got demolished. It collapsed and is completely gone. Our camera towers are gone, so is our holding barn. The starting gates got completely turned over and the light poles are torn up. The whole backside rail is pretty much ruined. There’s just a lot of damage and it is everywhere.”

Read TDN Article

OAKLAWN PLANNING 57-DAY MEET WITH FOUR $1 MILLION STAKES IN 2021

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Pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission, Oaklawn plans to conduct its regular 57-day meet highlighted by four $1 million stakes races – $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) – and the richest purse structure in its 117-year history. The 2021 season, which will be accentuated by the opening of a multi-purpose event center and a luxury 200-room hotel overlooking the track, is scheduled to run Friday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, May 1.

In addition, 21 stakes will have their purses raised by at least $25,000, most notably are $150,000 increases to both the Essex Handicap on March 13 and Oaklawn Mile on April 10, which will be worth $500,000 and $400,000, respectively. The purse of the Razorback Handicap (G3) on Saturday, Feb. 13 will be raised by $100,000 to $600,000. All stakes, including ones for state-breds, will be at least $150,000 each.

“We would not be able to once again offer record purses next year if it weren’t for the tremendous support we’ve received from the Arkansas Racing Commission, the horsemen, and our fans in 2020,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are excited to continue building on our ‘New Level of Excellence,’ which will include our new hotel, event center, state-of-the-art spa, and additional restaurants, which are all on schedule to open late 2020/early 2021.”

Oaklawn’s rich 3-year-old program for horses with Kentucky Derby aspirations will begin opening day, Jan. 22, with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and will culminate closing day, May 1, with the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational. In between are the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on Feb. 15, Presidents’ Day Monday, the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 13, and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 10.

Oaklawn’s five signature races that comprise the traditional Racing Festival of the South will be run over three Saturdays starting with the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies on Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail on April 3.

The $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby, will be run on April 10 along with three other stakes. Oaklawn’s series for older horses culminates on April 17 with the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the $1 million Apple Blossom (G1) for fillies and mares.

“Once finalized, the full purse program will be released soon,” added Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith. “We anticipate it will exceed $700,000 a day.”

Oaklawn’s 2021 stakes schedule features a total of 33 races worth $11,000,000. Racing will be conducted Friday–Sunday for the first two weeks of the meet and then shift to a Thursday–Sunday schedule starting in February. There will be racing on Presidents’ Day – Monday, Feb. 15, but there will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 4.

Located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, Oaklawn has been one of the premiere Thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, best known as home of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. The newly expanded Vegas-style casino features slots, live table games, and sports betting year-round. Live racing held Jan-May and simulcast racing throughout the year. Opening early 2021 are a 200-room luxury hotel, multi-purpose event center, state-of-the-art spa and new dining options. Website – http://www.Oaklawn.com, Phone – 1-800-OAKLAWN.

LTBA Office Open

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The LTBA office is open with computers fully operational.

Prayers for all who have been affected by Hurricane Laura as well as those in the path of this still powerful storm as she makes her way up through Louisiana.

EVD Cancels Live Racing and Workouts Aug 26 & 27

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Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino has cancelled live racing and morning workouts on both Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th due to impacts from Tropical Storm Laura. At this time, live racing is scheduled to resume on Friday, August 28th.

Please be safe during these next few days!

Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale Posts Big Gain in Gross as Average and Median Trend Up

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The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, posted a big gain in gross sales on Monday. The average and median also increased compared to last year, even with a much larger catalog on tap this year. The sale was held in the sales pavilion at Lone Star with appropriate safety measures in place, and online bidding was offered for the first time at the Texas sale.  

For the yearling session, 106 head from 137 offered sold for a total of $1,347,700, compared to 42 of 65 sold last year for $506,000. That represents a 166.34% increase in gross sales. The average this year was $12,714, up 5.5% from last year’s $12,048, and the median rose to $5,100 from $5,000 for an increase of 2%. The buyback rate this year was 22.6% compared to 35.3% last year. 

The format was altered this year to include a horses of racing age session, in part because of the cancellation of the 2-year-olds in training sale earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The session had 15 horses sell from 18 offered for a total of $162,500 and an average of $10,833.  

Last year’s summer auction had a traditional mixed session with 12 sold for $31,100. 

“The results of this sale were strong on their own, and especially against the backdrop of a health pandemic,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “With twice as many yearlings as last year, the fact that our average and median still went up shows that there’s a lot of demand in this region for quality stock. We were pleased with the response to online bidding as well.”  

Al Pike, agent, bought the three highest priced horses, topped by hip 218, a Louisiana-bred colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Klimt. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Coteau Grove Farms LLC, the January foal is the first out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Ms. Character and sold for $120,000. 

Pike also signed the ticket on the hip 203, who sold for $100,000 as the top filly and second-highest overall. Consigned by H & E Ranch, Roger Daly, agent, the Kentucky-bred daughter is also from the first crop of a Grade 1 winner in Classic Empire. She is out of Just Like Pop, by Unbridled’s Song, whose only foal to race is a multiple winner.  

Pike also got the third-highest price from H & E Ranch and Daly with hip 243, a Kentucky-bred Lemon Drop Kid colt for $70,000. 

From the horses of racing age session, the top price was hip 16, an unraced 2-year-old filly by Twirling Candy. Martin Racing Stable LLC bought her for $27,000 from Eaton Sales, agent.  

Eaton Sales, agent, participating in the Texas sale for the first time, topped the list of consignors with gross sales of $454,800 from 28 sold. Roger Daly, agent, had the top average with eight sold for an average of $31,800.

 

For complete sale results, go to www.ttasales.com.

LTBA Office Open with Limited Service

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The LTBA office is open today, August 25, 2020. However, with Hurricane Laura looming in the Gulf of Mexico, our computers remain out of service in order to protect the breeders’ data.

LTBA Executive Director Roger Heitzmann is in the office today to take care of any business that can be handled strictly by phone. He is monitoring the weather situation and plans to re-install computer operations as soon as he can be confident that Hurricane Laura is no longer a threat. All computers are backed up and the servers are in secure locations. With the unpredictability of hurricanes, the LTBA believes it is in everyones best interest to keep the computers offline at this time.

While Hurricane Marco has been thankfully downgraded, we encourage all to keep your guard up and continue to prepare for Hurricane Laura which is currently predicted to make landfall on the Texas/Louisiana border as a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. This can still have serious weather hazards all across the state.

The LTBA will update our status as conditions change. Thank you for your patience, and continued prayers for the safety of our members.

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Announce COVID-19 Safety Protocols for September Yearling Sales

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Monday, August 17, 2020

Officials from Keeneland Association and Fasig-Tipton Company Inc. today announced COVID-19 safety protocols for participants attending the upcoming September yearling sales on Sept. 9-10 at Fasig-Tipton and Sept. 13-25 at Keeneland.

“Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton are committed to providing the safest environment possible for both horses and humans on our grounds during the September sales,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason and Fasig-Tipton President Boyd T. Browning Jr. said in a joint statement. “Given the proximity of our two sales in terms of both dates and locations, it is important that we provide consistent protocols for the convenience of our participants.”

The following COVID-19 safety protocols, developed in collaboration with local and state health officials, will apply to all sales participants at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton:

  • All consignors and their staffs, veterinarians and their staffs, farriers, van counter representatives, media and any other person who will be interfacing with the public on a daily basis are required to receive a negative COVID-19 test within 10 days of entry to the grounds. Health and government officials have advised that this concentration of individuals creates the highest risk associated with conducting the sale, and both sales companies are working to mitigate that risk.
  • For the convenience of our participants, COVID-19 testing will be available at the following locations beginning Aug 24.  Testing windows are as follows:
  • FASIG-TIPTON
    • Aug. 24-25
    • Sept. 3-5
  • KEENELAND
    • Aug. 24-25
    • Aug. 31, Sept. 1-2
    • Sept. 11-12
  • If a participant is not available for the testing during the above windows, please contact Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton, and we will work to make testing available.
  • COVID-19 tests do not have to be taken at Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton, however proof of a negative test must be provided within 10 days of entry to the grounds.  Keeneland will accept a negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to the Fasig-Tipton sale.
  • Buyers are not required to be tested but must complete a health questionnaire prior to the sale. Testing will be available to buyers if requested. A window may not be available to all buyers upon arrival.
  • All sales participants must pre-register online. More information on this registration process will be communicated in the coming days.
  • Daily screenings, including temperature checks and health questions, are required for everyone accessing the grounds.
  • Everyone is required to wear a face covering at all times.
  • Social distancing of at least six feet is required throughout the grounds.
  • Capacity will be limited in the sales pavilions, including the sales arena, and throughout the grounds.

Neither September sale is open to the public. Attendance will be limited to credentialed sales participants.

For more information and updates on safety protocols, please visit Keeneland.com/September and Fasigtipton.com.

For more information, contact Keeneland (859 361-3490) or Fasig-Tipton (859 255-1555)