HIGHLY WICKED TAKES THE $60,000 FIRST LADY OF LOUISIANA SHARON LANDRY STAKES

MARCELINO PEDROZA, JR. BOOTS HOME THE WINNER

OPELOUSAS, LA – Highly Wicked kept her perfect turf record intact with a late rally to take the $60,000 First Lady of Louisiana Sharon Landry Stakes on a picturesque spring evening at Evangeline Downs Friday night.  The race for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares, 4-years-old and upward, was contested over the distance of one mile on a firm turf course.

Miss Priority and Tommie G were both away sharply to help set the early tempo, while Highly Wicked and jockey Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. were able to settle nicely off the early pace.  As the field moved through an opening quarter-mile in 23.93 seconds and a half-mile split in 48.40, Miss Priority held the lead over Tommie G, with Nodah and Highly Wicked stalking the leading pair.

Tommie G moved forward to challenge for the lead through six furlongs in 1:13.16, with Nodah also producing a wide bid and Highly Wicked inching closer as well.  In the final furlong Tommie G and Nodah battled for an advantage, while Highly Wicked kicked into high gear and reeled them in, edging clear in the closing yards.  The winning margin for Highly Wicked was three-quarters of a length over Tommie G.  It was another 1-1/4 lengths back to Nodah in third.  The winning time was 1:38.05.

Trained by Sam David, Jr., Highly Wicked is a winner for the eighth time in 17 career starts, including seven wins from seven turf starts.  She earns $36,000 with the victory and bumps her career earnings to $290,430.

Owned and bred by the team of Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh, Highly Wicked is a 5-year-old chestnut mare.  Sired by Wicked Strong, she is out of the Rahy mare Highly Confused.

Highly Wicked, sent off as the overwhelming 1/9 favorite, returned $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.  Tommie G paid $2.40 and $2.10, with Nodah also returning $2.10 to show.

Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 5:30pm first post.  The featured event on the 9-race card is the $60,000 Don Stemmans Memorial Stakes.  The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs until August 23.

For more information on Evangeline Downs 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.  

About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino

Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.