HIGHLY WICKED CONTINUES TURF DOMINANCE ON LEGENDS NIGHT AT EVANGELINE DOWNS

JOCKEYS MELANCON AND PEDROZA, JR. EACH RIDE TWO STAKE WINNERS 

OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs hosted the annual celebration of Louisiana-bred thoroughbreds with a 10-race Louisiana Legends Night card on Saturday.  The slate featured six stake races each worth $100,000 for state-bred runners and a pair of 2-year-old races for potential future stars.  The races were contested over surfaces rated as fast and firm.

Evangeline Downs honored Louisiana Legends throughout the evening.  Jockeys Shane Sellers, Craig Perret and Randy Romero, trainers Bernard Flint and James “Sweet” Hodges, and longtime LTBA member Tom Early were this year’s honorees.

Highly Wicked kept her turf record spotless with a hard-fought victory in the Turf Distaff.  The race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward was battled over the distance of one mile.

Rue La La, Sweet Darlin and Tommie G were all away sharply in the Turf Distaff, while jockey Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. and Highly Wicked settled into a nice, tracking trip in the early stages.  Through the opening two furlongs in 23.82 and a half-mile split in 47.66, Tommie G led the way with Rue La La and Sweet Darlin chasing.  Highly Wicked traveled nicely in sixth position as the field moved into the far turn.

As the field started to pick up the tempo with three furlongs to go, Highly Wicked was producing a sharp four-wide bid to challenge for the lead, while Grabiq was following the heavy favorite’s move.  With a furlong to go, Highly Wicked collared Tommie G but Grabiq was charging in the center of the course.  Highly Wicked was able to fend off that bid to win by a half-length, with Tommie G another 1-1/4 lengths back in third.  The winner stopped the timer in 1:36.55.

Owned and bred by the team of Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh, Highly Wicked is a winner for the ninth time from 18 career starts and has won all eight of her turf tries.  With the winning purse of $60,000, her bankroll increases to $350,430.

Trained by Sam David, Jr., Highly Wicked is a 5-year-old bay mare.  She was sired by Wicked Strong and is out of the Rahy mare Highly Confused.

Highly Wicked paid $3.40 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show.  Grabiq returned $4.40 and $2.80, with Tommie G paying $4.40.

Larry Romero’s He’s Late Again captured his second stake race of the season with a victory in the Cheval.  The race for 3-year-olds was contested at the distance of one mile.

Same Play was away sharpest in the Cheval, while He’s Late Again and rider Jansen Melancon were able to stay in close attendance of the early leader alongside Star Rock Star.  Through fractions of 23.88 for the opening quarter-mile and a 47.04 half-mile split, Same Play held a narrow advantage over He’s Late Again, with Star Rock Star and Sippin On Gin chasing the top pair.

As the field turned for home after six furlongs in 1:12.07, He’s Late Again pounced on the leader, while Sippin On Gin was commencing a late bid.  In the drive to the wire, He’s Late Again was able to hold sway to win by a length over Sippin On Gin.  It was another 1-1/2 lengths to Same Play in third.  The winner stopped the clock in a time of 1:38.71.

Trained by Allen Landry, He’s Late Again wins for the fourth time from six career starts.  With the winning share of $60,000, his career bankroll grows to $180,200.

Bred by the team of Nathan Granger, Shannon Luquette, Chris Hebert & Brody Trahan, He’s Late Again is a dark bay or brown gelding sired by Aurelius Maximus.  He is out of the Stephen Got Even mare Pixie Devil.

He’s Late again returned $3.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.  Sippin On Gin paid $2.20 and $2.10, with Same Play returning $4.60.

Good and Stout ($6.40) stalked the pace under rider Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. and put in a strong stretch bid to capture the Legends Turf at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth for 3-year-olds and upward.

Owned by Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC (Carrol Castille) and trained by Carrol Castille, Good and Stout wins for the fifth time in 20 career starts.  The dark bay or brown 4-year-old colt was bred by Adcock’s Red River Farm, LLC & Hume Wornall.  Sired by Coal Front, he is out of the More Than Ready mare Ready Witted.

He’s Just Lucky ($13.60) rushed to the front down the backside with rider Jansen Melancon and dashed away to an easy win in the Sprint.  The race over 5-1/2 furlongs was a contest for 3-year-olds and upward.

One of three winners on the card for trainer Allen Landry, He’s Just Lucky wins for the fifth time in 13 career efforts.  The 4-year-old chestnut gelding is owned by Baronne Farms, LLC (Lon Baronne) and was bred by 4M Ranch & Blue Star Racing LLC.  He was sired by Breaking Lucky and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Anea.

Pendelton Larsen, Jr.’s Beleout ($80) was moved up to first via disqualification in the Mademoiselle after being interfered with by Six String in the stretch.  Ridden by Treylon Albert and trained by Courtney Dandridge, Jr., Beleout wins for the seventh time in 22 career starts.

Beleout was bred in Louisiana by Delmar Caldwell.  The 6-year-old bay mare was sired by Flat Out and is out of the My Friend Max mare My Friend Bele.

Warrior’s Justice ($8.40) and jockey C.J. McMahon broke on top and never looked back in a front-running score in the Soiree for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.  Trained by Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez, Warrior’s Justice is a winner for the third time in nine career starts.

Owned and bred by Russell Welch, she is a dark bay or brown filly sired by Justify.  She is out of the Holy Bull mare Warrior Maid.

High Class Trip ($18) and Golden Mane ($3.40) stamped themselves as runners to watch with impressive wins in the 2-year-old races on the card.

Live racing resumes on Thursday with a 5:30pm first post.  The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs until September 1.