LOUISIANA LEGENDS AT EVANGELINE DOWNS SATURDAY NIGHT

SIX $100,000 STAKES FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS HIGHLIGHT THE 10-RACE CARD

OPELOUSAS, LA –The marquee night of the 2025 thoroughbred season takes place Saturday with the Louisiana Legends card at Evangeline Downs.  The 10-race card features six stake races for Louisiana-bred runners, with each stake worth $100,000, and a pair of 2-year-old races for potential future Legends.  Evangeline Downs will honor a group of six Louisiana racing legends during the card.  The 2025 Legends are jockeys Craig Perret, Randy Romero and Shane Sellers; trainers James “Sweet” Hodges and Bernard Flint; and longtime LTBA member Tom Early.

In addition to the excellent card that was drawn, Evangeline Downs has many other attractions for race fans.  Prior to the races, jockeys will be available for pictures and autographs in a meet and greet from 4:30-5:00pm and jockeys will be tossing t-shirts from the winner’s circle after each stakes race.  Family night staples including face painting, a magician and balloon animals for the kids are also planned for the evening.  There will be food vendors with specialty foods and treats in the paddock area as well.

The stakes action begins in the third race with the Cheval, a one-mile event for 3-year-olds.  Sippin on Gin brings a three-race win streak into the affair and is the morning line favorite.  He’s Late Again and Rocky Star have each won multiple times and are key contenders.  The Cheval honors jockey Randy Romero, a winner of over 4,200 races and the regular rider for the undefeated Personal Ensign.

The Mademoiselle, a 5-1/2 furlong sprint for fillies and mares, has nine-time winner Six String listed as the morning line choice.  Luyv, who defeated Six String last out, and EVD Distaff winner Norah G look to be worthy adversaries.  The Mademoiselle honors trainer Bernard Flint, whose runners won over 3,500 races and earned over $64,000,000.

Race six on the card, the Turf Distaff for fillies and mares at a mile on the grass, features Highly Wicked bringing her undefeated turf record to the table.  With seven wins in seven turf tries, the Sam David, Jr. trainee is the one to beat.  Rue La La, Clearly a Test and Tommie G are among the runners looking to spring an upset.  The Turf Distaff honors jockey Craig Perret.  Perret rode over 4,400 winners in his career, including the 1990 Kentucky Derby with Unbridled and the 1987 Belmont with Bet Twice.

The Soiree, for 3-year-old fillies, has the Bret Calhoun trainee Canal Street listed as a slight morning line favorite over Brett Brinkman’s CC Cola.  Set Hut, LLC’s Kalil could also spark some wagering interest in the compact field of five.  The Soiree honors longtime LTBA board member Tom Early.

An overflow field of 13 3-year-olds and upward were entered for the Legends Turf at a mile and a sixteenth on the lawn. This race might be the biggest handicapping challenge with a number of horses that could claim the title.  Allnight Moonlight, recent winner of the Don Stemmans Memorial over this same course is a prime candidate.  Narrowly defeated in the Stemmans, Good and Stout brings solid credentials, while Behemah Star and Highland Creek have both run well enough in the past to capture the Turf.  The race honors jockey Shane Sellers, who booted home over 4,300 winners, many with the great Skip Away.

The final stake on the card is the Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going 5-1/2 furlongs.  Smoken Wicked returns to face state-bred company after facing some of the best 3-year-olds in the country this year.  Marks Promise, winner of the Premier Sprint at Delta Downs earlier in the year, and Clear as a Bele are a couple of the older runners looking to knock off Smoken Wicked.  The Sprint honors trainer James “Sweet” Hodges.  Hodges trained over 600 winners including Zarb’s Dahar and Foreign Production.

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Evangeline Downs will be awarding a total of four $1,000 scholarships during the evening.  Students are encouraged to attend the races and enter the drawing, with the winners to be selected after the fifth race.  First post time Saturday will be 5:30pm Central Time.   

The racing calendar for the remainder of the 2025 season features racing Thursday through Saturday until the end of the meet on Labor Day, September 1.

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.