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Tag: Louisiana
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.
Spring 2022 Breeding Shed
LTBA Annual Awards Banquet June 11
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MISS JANA CHARGES HOME TO VICTORY IN THE $60,000 ACADIANA STAKES
JOCKEY JOSE GUERRERO ABOARD THE FIRST STAKES WINNER OF THE SEASON
OPELOUSAS, LA –Evangeline Downs kicked off the 2022 stakes calendar with a renewal of the $60,000 Acadiana Stakes on Friday night. Jerry Cart’s Miss Jana took control on the turn and pulled away for a convincing victory. The race for three-year-old fillies, formerly restricted to state-bred runners, was absent from the stakes schedule the past couple of seasons.
Sassy Emma was quickest out of the gate and was quickly joined by Brinee and Run Natalie Run in the charge down the backstretch. After a sharp start, jockey Jose Guerrero had Miss Jana well within striking distance, rating in fourth position, as the leaders went the opening quarter-mile in 22.32 seconds. Miss Jana rushed up to challenge with a four-wide bid midway on the turn, challenging Brinee and Run Natalie Run, as Sassy Emma was the first to bow out. After a half-mile in a swift 45.74 seconds, Miss Jana surged forward to take a half-length lead. Run Natalie Run and Brinee were also beginning to tire, while Wholelottamo and Splenda Gail started to commence with their closing rallies.
Miss Jana opened up her lead to a convincing four lengths as they passed the final furlong marker and was in hand nearing the wire a comfortable 3-1/4 lengths in front. Wholelottamo sustained her bid to finish in the runner-up spot, 1-1/2 lengths in front of Splenda Gail, who finished third. Miss Jana stopped the timer in 1:11.32 seconds for six furlongs over a track rated fast.
Trained by the owner, Miss Jana earned $36,000 for the victory, her third from nine career starts. The purse from the first stakes victory increased her lifetime bankroll to $103,640.
The 3-year-old filly was bred in Louisiana by Robert E. Hewlett. Sired by Ruler’s Court, the bay is out of the Mauk Four mare Jettin Jana.
Miss Jana returned $7.20 to win as the second choice in the wagering, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Favored Wholelottamo paid $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Splenda Gail returned $3.20 to show.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 5:30pm first post. The featured event is the $60,000 Lafayette Stakes. The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs on a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule until August 27.
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.
LOUISIANA DOWNS 2022 THOROUGHBRED LIVE RACING SEASON TO GET UNDERWAY ON SATURDAY, MAY 7
Live Racing Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Through September 27
Bossier City, LA – The 2022 Thoroughbred racing season at Louisiana Downs will commence on Saturday, May 7. The 84-day live racing season will run four continuous days with a post time of 3:05 pm (Central) through Tuesday, September 27.
The Bossier City racetrack just completed its annual Quarter Horse meet on April 6 under new ownership. Kevin Preston, who has over 30-years of experience in the casino industry is president of Louisiana Downs and is committed to integrating the racetrack and onsite and casino into one entity.
The personable and outgoing Preston has wasted no time in learning more about horse racing. He has been very active in talking with horsemen and understanding their needs. Improvements on the backside have been made, including a new toteboard, security gate, foliage and signage. Preston is highly committed to increasing purses and maintaining the safest track surfaces.
“I respect the investment that each owner has in running a horse at Louisiana Downs,” said Preston. “Trainers work extremely hard caring and training for their horses and competitive purses and quality track surfaces are extremely important.”
Entertainment and attracting attendance are also top priorities for Preston and his team. Promotions including a New Year’s Eve fireworks show, t-shirt and cap giveaways, food trucks and family-friendly activities were very well-received during the Quarter Horse meet. Several promotions are planned for opening day, which will also include the simulcast of the 148th Kentucky Derby.
“Bringing back fans to enjoy the thrill of live horse racing is important for us,” added Preston. “There is a special thrill to seeing these amazing athletes in action and cheering on the winner! Plus, it’s been great to see families spending Sunday afternoons together on the track apron.”
Louisiana Downs also opened its long awaited Sports Wagering hub in the casino recently with plans to open their permanent space within the next six months. It will be a dynamic, state-of-the-art venue comprised of a live brick and mortar sportsbook fused with a sports bar and grill.
With high definition televisions, comfortable seating, and a new restaurant, sports fans will be able to watch and wager on their favorite teams. Also, coming soon are 100 new machines as well as Historical Horse Racing betting terminals.
The first condition book for May 7-29 is available on Equibase. Louisiana Cup Day, featuring six stakes for Louisiana Thoroughbreds, will be contested on Saturday, August 6 and an announcement on the return of the Super Derby will be forthcoming.
Nominations for Louisiana Cup Day will close on 23. The stakes are as follows:
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred Six furlongs
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred Six furlongs
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
$50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
The 84-day meet will feature live racing on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday through September 27. Post time will be 3:05 pm (Central). For details on simulcasting and special events, visit ladowns.com.
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.
EVANGELINE DOWNS SET TO KICK OFF 2022 THOROUGHBRED SEASON ON APRIL 6
THE 84-DAY SEASON WILL RUN THROUGH AUGUST 27
OPELOUSAS, LA –The 2022 Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs will begin on Wednesday, April 6. The meet will consist of 84 days of racing, running on a Wednesday through Saturday weekly schedule and concluding on August 27. First post each night will be at the new time of 5:30pm Central time.
The stakes calendar features a couple of new additions with the Acadiana and Lafayette Stakes. Both of these races were previously contested under state-bred conditions, but are now open stakes events. The Acadiana, for 3-year-old fillies, will be run on Friday, April 15, with the Lafayette, for 3-year-olds, the following night. The May stakes action features the EVD Distaff, for 4-year-old and up Louisiana-bred fillies and mares, on May 6 and the EVD Classic, for Louisiana-bred 4-year-olds and up, on May 7.
The featured night of the Thoroughbred racing season will take place on Saturday, June 4 with the Louisiana Legends Night. The exciting card will include six stakes races for horses bred in the Bayou State, each with a purse of $75,000. A new star emerged last year as Cilla took the Legends Mademoiselle Stakes and later scored a graded stakes win in the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga in September.
July will see the renewals of the Opelousas and John Henry Stakes turf races. The Opelousas, on Friday July 1, is for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares. The John Henry, to be run on Saturday, July 2, is for 3-year-olds and up.
The final month of the racing season will include a couple of stakes weekends. The Friday, August 5 card will include the Spotted Horse, a stakes for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares. The Evangeline Mile, for 3-year-olds and up, will be contested Saturday, August 6. Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds will take center stage on closing weekend with the D.S “Shine” Young Futurities. The fillies division will be run on Friday, August 26, with the colts and geldings division on the final night of the meet Saturday, August 27.
Tim Thornton, a three-time riding champion at Evangeline Downs, will be the top returning rider in 2022. Thornton, who captured his fourth consecutive riding title at Delta Downs over the winter, finished second in the standings last season with 100 wins. Gerard Melancon eclipsed the 5,000 career wins mark last summer and returns looking to add to his stellar career numbers. Apprentice Vincente Del-Cid will be a new face in the jockey colony this season. Joe Stokes, Pedro Cotto, Jr., Devin Magnon, Kevin Smith and Aubrie Green are among some of the riders looking to have a solid meet.
Eduardo Ramirez will be back to defend his 2021 leading trainer title and will face a stiff challenge from the Karl Broberg barn. The former Broberg assistant notched 44 wins and a 31% winning clip to unseat the perennial leader last year. Other regulars returning with stables to the Opelousas oval include Keith Bourgeois, Sam David, Sam Breaux, Rylee Grudzien, Ron Faucheux and Allen Landry. Ricky Courville, trainer of Kentucky Derby hopeful Un Ojo, will also return with a stable for the 2022 season.
For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing, the new Fan Duel sportsbook and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.
Coteau Grove Receives ‘Gift’ of Healthy Twin Colts
Villa d’Este gave birth to the Gift Box colts April 3 at the Louisiana farm.
Staff at Coteau Grove Farms in Louisiana received the gift of a lifetime April 3 when their mare Villa d’Este foaled not one, but two healthy colts by Gift Box .
In the months leading up to the birth, broodmare manager Jacob Cyprian said the mare’s size had them questioning her due date.
“We’ve been looking at her since January, we knew she wasn’t due until the beginning of April … We were like, ‘Man, she’s so big,’ so we just started keeping an eye of her and started watching her,” Cyprian said. “We never knew it was twins. When she got in foal, we always thought she was just having one.”
“(We thought) the date could be wrong so we started backtracking, trying to see what was going on, and we were right (about the due date). When she started getting close, we just kept an eye on her and she was just getting real slow and real heavy. I said, ‘Well, she’s going to go soon.'”
April Calendar of Events from the LTBA
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75-1 Win Puts Spotlight on One-Eyed Un Ojo, Courville
Longshot Rebel winner runs in Arkansas Derby with Kentucky Derby spot assured.
For the last few weeks, Ricky Courville’s family and friends have been peppering him with suggestions for the first week in May. They have been urging the Louisiana-based trainer to buy airline tickets or make hotel and restaurant reservations. Some have recommended buying a new suit. But at the moment, Courville would prefer to wait until next week before handling all those details.
“It’s been an exciting time,” Courville said, “but I know anything can happen in this game so I just keep on working like normal and think about what’s going on. I’ve got family talking about making reservations in Kentucky but I tell them, ‘Whoa, we have one more race to go. Let’s not jinx anything now.”‘
For Courville, who has a string of about 30 horses based in Louisiana and spent the first 13 years of his training career without experiencing the thrill of a graded stakes win, his life finally shifted into the fast lane Feb. 26 through the heroics of Un Ojo , a one-eyed gelding by the late stallion Laoban owned by Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm.
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