LA Breds win Open Stakes on EVD Opening Weekend
OPELOUSAS, LA – The 60th year of racing in the Acadiana region kicked off Friday night at Evangeline Downs with the start of the 2026 Thoroughbred season. On Friday, Midnight Passion put on a convincing display in the $60,000 Acadiana Stakes, over a track listed as fast. Saturdayraces were contested over a track listed as sloppy as rains persisted throughout the evening. Tiz Mary’s Comet defeated competition to win the $60,000 Lafayette Stakes.
Jockey Colby Hernandez crossed the finish line aboard Midnight Passion on Friday night, winning the Acadiana Stakes. Photo: Kimmy & Mike Burrow / Hodges Photography
Midnight Passion took control early and never looked back in a sharp effort to take the $60,000 Acadiana Stakes. The race for 3-year-old fillies was contested over the distance of six furlongs.
The entire field of six runners broke alertly, with Final Shipman and Midnight Passion the quickest in the early action. Jockey Colby Hernandez and Midnight Passion assumed control down the backside and opened up a length advantage over Final Shipman as they covered an opening quarter-mile in 22.22 seconds, with the field only separated by about four lengths from first to last.
As the field moved through the turn, Midnight Passion extended the lead to two lengths over Final Shipman as Woodstock started to move forward wide and Echo Juliet searched for a seam at the rail to produce a bid. The half-mile split was a solid 45.85 seconds.
Straightening away, Midnight Passion found an extra gear and quickly extended the margin past the furlong marker. Echo Juliet moved into second with her bid, battling with Woodstock for the runner-up spot. Midnight Passion was four lengths clear at the wire, with Echo Juliet a head better than Woodstock in a place photo. The final time was 1:11.13.
Owned and bred by Coteau Grove Farms LLC (Keith and Ginger Myers), Midnight Passion is a 3-year-old grey/roan filly sired by Quality Road. She is out of the Midnight Lute mare Midnight Fantasy.
The Patrick Devereux, Jr. trainee wins for the third time in four career starts. She earned $36,000 for the victory and her career earnings now stand at $113,800.
Midnight Passion paid $8.40 to win, $5 to place and $2.60 to show. Echo Juliet returned $4.80 and $2.80, with favored Woodstock paying $2.10 to show.
Jockey Colby Hernandez crossed the finish line aboard Midnight Passion on Friday night, winning the Acadiana Stakes. Photo: Kimmy & Mike Burrow / Hodges Photography
Tiz Mary’s Comet battled for the lead and pulled away late to capture the $60,000 Lafayette Stakes. The race for 3-year-olds was contested over the distance of six furlongs. The win was the second stakes victory of the weekend for the team of trainer Rylee Magnon and jockey Devin Magnon.
Mr Mo Money and Tiz Mary’s Comet were away sharply and were quickly joined by Skenes Crews as the field for the Lafayette rushed down the backside. The opening quarter-mile was covered in a time of 22.52 seconds. Moving into the turn, Mr Mo Money opened a length advantage over Tiz Mary’s Comet, as Range Goat produced a three-wide bid to get into contention through a half-mile in 46.04 seconds.
Turning for home Tiz Mary’s Comet surged forward to confront Mr Mo Money as Range Goat drifted wide. Inside the final furlong Tiz Mary’s Comet powered clear and pulled away for a 2-1/2 length victory over Mr Mo Money. It was another length back to Range Goat in third. The winning time was 1:11.60.
Tiz Mary’s Comet is owned by Michael Rotstein and Olof, LLC. He is a winner for the second time in four career starts and earns $36,000 for the effort. His bankroll increases to $86,900.
Bred in Louisiana by Norman Stables, LLC, Tiz Mary’s Comet is a chestnut gelding sired by Good Samaritan. He is out of the Tiz the One mare Suzie’s Dream.
Tiz Mary’s Comet returned $3 to win as the overwhelming favorite, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Mr Mo Money paid $4.80 and $3.60, with Range Goat paying $8.40 to show.