NONEYA STRIDES FORWARD TO WIN THE $60,000 CREOLE LADY ~ CLEARLY A TEST FIGHTS OFF MULTIPLE BIDS TO WIN THE CAJUN MISS
Noneya wears down Charlie T to win the Creole Lady Stakes at Evangeline Downs by half a length. Hodges Photography.
OPELOUSAS, LA – Noneya rallied in the final yards to capture the $60,000 Creole Lady at Evangeline Downs on Friday night. The race for older fillies and mares was a co-headliner with the Cajun Miss in a pair of stake races for Louisiana-bred runners. The races were contested over a track left sloppy by heavy morning showers.
Charlie T and Norah G were both out sharply and battled for the early lead in the Creole Lady, with Noneya and jockey Juan Vargas getting settled in fourth down the backside. As the field raced through the opening quarter-mile split in 22.29 seconds, Norah G was a narrow leader with Charlie T second, while Noneya stayed within striking range. As the field made their way to the top of the stretch, Charlie T had wrestled the lead away from a tiring Norah G, with an oncoming Noneya getting into high gear.
Inside the final 100 yards, Noneya was able to wear down a stubborn Charlie T and race by to win by a half-length. Blessed Assurance rallied from far off the pace to finish just a length back in third. The final time for the 5-1/2 furlong affair was 1:05.14.
Owned and trained by Ronnie Ward, Noneya is a winner for the seventh time in 21 starts. The winning purse of $36,000 increases her career bankroll to $247,340.
Bred by the team of J. Adcock and Hume Wornall, Noneya is a 6-year-old bay mare sired by Palace. She is out of the Quiet American mare American Placed.
Noneya rewarded backers with payouts of $19.20, $8 and $4.40. Charlie T returned $6.80 and $6, with Blessed Assurance paying $7.80.
Clearly A Test holds off competitors to win the Cajun Miss Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Hodges Photography.
Clearly a Test and jockey Jose Guerrero fought off two stretch bids in capturing the $60,000 Cajun Miss. The race for 3-year-old fillies was contested over the distance of seven furlongs.
Guitar Solo was quickest away from the gate as the field for the Cajun Miss were all away in good order. As they sprinted through the opening quarter-mile in 22.42 seconds, Guitar Solo was two lengths in front of Lightofmaine, with Clearly a Test rating in third. Through a half-mile split in 45.51, Guitar Solo was still in front, but the margin was diminishing as Clearly a Test and Lightofmaine collared the leader approaching the head of the stretch.
Clearly a Test and Lightofmaine battled side-by-side inside the furlong pole, while Emily’s Bullet was producing a late rally in the center of the racetrack. The wire arrived just in time for Clearly a Test, with the winning margin just a neck ahead of Emily’s Bullet. Lightofmaine was another head back in third. The winner stopped the timer in 1:25.08.
Clearly a Test is a homebred of Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable, Inc. The bay filly was sired by Clearly Now and is out of the Star Guitar mare Testing One Two.
Trained by Shane Wilson, Clearly a Test is a winner for the second time from 10 career starts. The winning purse of $36,000 increases her bankroll to $168,500.
Clearly a Test returned $6.40 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Emily’s Bullet paid $5.40 to place, $3 to show and Lightofmaine paid $3.20 to show.
Live racing resumes on Saturday with a special 4:50pm first post. The first two races will run prior to a break for the 150th Kentucky Derby, then resume at approximately 6:15pm. Three stake races highlight the card, including the $60,000 EVD Classic. The Evangeline Downs thoroughbred season runs until August 24
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.