ALLNIGHT MOONLIGHT RALLIES TO WIN THE $60,000 STEMMANS MEMORIAL

ELIO BARRERA BRINGS HOME THE WINNER ON A THREE-WIN NIGHT 
-Rob Tuel, Evangeline Downs

OPELOUSAS, LA – Allnight Moonlight rallied in the final yards to capture the $60,000 Don Stemmans Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs Saturday night.  The race for Louisiana-bred 4-years-old and upward was contested over the distance of one mile and a sixteenth on a firm turf course. 

Calicoco and Tussling Charlie were both away sharply and were hustled to get to the lead in the Stemmans Memorial, with Calicoco gaining the advantage out of the turf chute.  As the field raced through the opening furlongs in a spirited pace, Calicoco led by a length over Tussling Charlie, while jockey Elio Barrera and Allnight Moonlight settled in at the back of the pack.  

With the early fractions beginning to take the starch out of the early leaders, Mi Solution and Nopenottonight made bids for the lead nearing the quarter pole.  Good and Stout was beginning to rally, while Allnight Moonlight commenced a five-wide bid into the stretch.  As the field straightened away, Good and Stout made a bid outside of Nopenottonight to gain the lead, but Allnight Moonlight was charging quickest in the center of the track.  Allnight Moonlight was able to collar Good and Stout in the final couple of jumps to win by a neck.  Nopenottonight was 4-3/4 lengths back in third, with Cosmic Train in fourth.  The final time was a hand timed 1:46.10.

Allnight Moonlight is owned by Roger Smith and trained by Sam Breaux.  He is a winner for the ninth time from 22 career starts.  With the $36,000 winning share of the purse, his career earnings now stand at $440,900.

Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, LLC, Allnight Moonlight is a bay 5-year-old gelding sired by Ransom the Moon.  He is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Gingertini.

Allnight Moonlight returns $8.80 for the win ticket, $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show.  Good and Stout pays $4 and $3.20, with Nopenottonight paying $9.40.