HIGHLY WICKED IMPRESSIVE AGAIN IN THE $60,000 OPELOUSAS STAKES

POINT PROVEN RALLIES STRONGLY TO TAKE THE $60,000 JOHN HENRY STAKES

OPELOUSAS, LA –Evangeline Downs carded a pair of turf stake races to close out the holiday weekend on Saturday night.  Highly Wicked captured her third stakes victory of the season with a sharp score in the $60,000 Opelousas Stakes and Point Proven put a big stretch kick in to capture the $60,000 John Henry Stakes.  The races were contested over a course rated as firm.

Timothy Thornton crossed the finish line aboard Highly Wicked at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night, winning the Opelousas Stakes. Kimmy Burrow / Hodges Photography

Highly Wicked continued her dominance on the turf with a stylish win in the $60,000 Opelousas Stakes. The race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward was contested over the distance of one mile.

Tommie G and Brunch Punch were the quickest away from the gate in the Opelousas Stakes, while jockey Tim Thornton and Highly Wicked broke alertly and settled nicely off the quick early tempo.  Dueling into the backstretch side by side, Brunch Punch and Tommie G traded the lead under swift fractions of 23.33 seconds for an opening quarter-mile and 46.91 seconds for a solid half-mile.

As the field moved into the far turn, Tommie G was able to wrestle the lead from Brunch Punch, but Highly Wicked had traveled smoothly throughout and was ready to pounce with a three-wide bid.  At the top of the stretch Highly Wicked collared Tommie G, who was battling bravely after the fast fractions, and Autism Community was producing a late bid as well.

Highly Wicked maintained her advantage in the final furlong and was a length clear of Autism Community at the finish.  It was another 2-1/2 lengths back to Tommie G in third.  The running time over the turf that produced quick times all week was 1:35.19, just a second off the track record.

Owned by the team of Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh and trained by Sam David, Jr., Highly Wicked picked up her 10th victory from 19 career starts, and kept her turf record perfect for a ninth time.  She earned $36,000 in the win and increases her career bankroll to $386,430.

Highly Wicked was bred in Louisiana by the owners and is a 5-year-old chestnut mare sired by Wicked Strong.  She is out of the Rahy mare Highly Confused.

Sent off as a prohibitive 3/5 favorite, Highly Wicked returned $3.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show.  Autism Community paid $4.20 and $3.20, with Tommie G returning $2.40 to show.

Point Proven produced a strong stretch kick in the $60,000 John Henry Stakes to help jockey Tim Thornton win both stake races on the card.  The race for 3-year-olds and upward was raced over the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

Tdzshininluckystar, Uncle Jake and Seismic Spirit were among the best away in the field of 12, while Point Proven was allowed to settle in towards the back of the pack.  As the field traveled through the opening furlongs, Uncle Jake held a narrow advantage over Seismic Spirit in opening splits of 23.52 seconds and 48.31 for a half-mile.

Moving through the far turn Uncle Jake held a slim advantage but a number of runners were starting to gather momentum for the stretch drive.  Mr McGregor made the first decisive bid alongside Global Sensation, while Point Proven and Allnight Moonlight were starting to wind up from farther back.

At the top of the stretch Global Sensation collared Uncle Jake, but they were under siege as Point Proven kicked into high gear inside the furlong marker and Allnight Moonlight was rolling in the middle of the racetrack.  Inside the final 100 yards Point Proven edged clear and Allnight Moonlight’s bid was too late.  The winning margin for Point Proven was 1-1/4 lengths, with Allnight Moonlight a length better than Global Sensation.  The running time was 1:42.92.

Owned by Norman Miller IV and trained by David Terre, Point Proven is a winner for the fifth time in 18 career starts.  With the winning share of $36,000, his career earnings now stand at $239,730.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, LLC, Point Proven is a 5-year-old bay gelding sired by Gun Runner.  He is out of the Berardini mare Secret Jewel.

Favored Point Proven returned $4.80 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show.  Allnight Moonlight paid $3.80 and $2.80, with Global Sensation paying $7.

Live racing resumes on Thursday with a 5:30pm first post Central time.  The Thoroughbred season runs until Labor Day, September 1.

For more information on Evangeline Downs, including a full stakes schedule, visit the track’s website at https://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing. 

Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.