Legendary Racing Honoring Louisiana Racing Legends
by Chad Cooper
Mother Nature did her best to dampen the spirits June 1 on Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. Hours before post time, buckets of rain descended from the Louisiana skies to force track officials to move races off the turf and to the dirt, which was sloppy at best. Despite her interferences, no one complained after the skies parted when race time temperatures dipped to into the 70s with low humidity and breezy-like conditions. Something uncommon in the summertime in Southwest Louisiana. The track’s richest night of thoroughbred racing featured a program full of 10 Louisiana state bred races, including six $100,000 stakes races with over $1.9 million wagered – an increase from last year’s wagered card. If that wasn’t spectacular enough, Evangeline Downs also celebrated the careers of many Louisiana Legends throughout the night including Mark Guidry, Calvin Borel, Charles Ashy Sr., Larry Robideaux, Joseph “Spanky” Broussard and Eddie Johnston.
Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO and up Fillies & Mares, 1 Mile
For Harper
Accelerate – Holdontoyourdream, by Proud Citizen
Breeder: Clear Creek Stud LLC & Theodore Brandon
Owner: Valene Farms LLC
Trainer: Sturges Ducoing
Jockey: Joel Dominguez
For Harper captures the Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff. Hodges Photography.
Trainer Sturges Ducoing was at home recovering from a broken neck. His 4-year-old filly and daughter of Accelerate, For Harper helped the pain subside momentarily after she won her first stakes race, and third overall win in a row.
“Though this was supposed to be on turf, we knew there would be a lot of speed in here,” said owner Murray Valene of Valene Farms LLC. “We wanted to keep track of the 8 – Sixth Anniversary – and not get into a speed duel.”
Named after his granddaughter Harper, For Harper loves an off track. Coming into the Turf Distaff, the filly had three wins in seven starts on a wet surface.
Jockey Joel Dominguez was a substitute rider as earlier in the night Timothy Thornton suffered an injury when a horse he was riding in Race 4 went down.
“We got a big rally from last to first,” said Dominguez. “There was some early pace, so we made a few moves through traffic, and I went wide with her, and we won the race.”
That early tempo was set by 55-1 longshot Luminous Flight, who was loose on the lead through opening fractions of 23.65 and 47.86, with Norah G a clear second as the field was well spread out. Norah G made a bid for the lead near six furlongs, but was quickly collared by For Harper, who pulled away to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:39.95.
Valene’s runner has six wins in 19 career starts for earnings of $236,000.
The final order of finish was For Harper ($13.20), Nora G, Wholelottamo, Sixth Anniversary, Tensas Candy, Box of Pictures, Luminous Flight, Spirited Beauty, Final Quest and First I’ve Seen. Royal O’Haigain and Sweet Sassicaia were scratched.
Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff honoree
Joseph Spanky Broussard
After serving as an assistant to Hall of Famers Tennessee Wright, Dewey Smith, and J. R. Smith, Broussard went on his own in 1969 and continued through the summer of 2012. During his career, Broussard was represented by more than 1,000 winners and was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. In addition to his training career, Broussard was an agent for Sallee Horse Vans.
Among the top horses trained by Broussard were multiple grade II and seven-time stakes winner Irish Swap, grade III six-time stakes winner Stonehouse, grade III winner Tudor Tambourine, and multiple stakes winners Bayou Bidder, Magnetic Miss, and Bishop's Idea, among others.
Joseph E. "Spanky" Broussard, who trained on the Chicago and New Orleans circuits for 50 years, passed at age 74 in 2015.
Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & up, Fillies & Mares, 1 Mile
Ova Charged
Star Guitar – Charged Cotton, by Dehere
Breeder: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Shane Wilson
Jockey: Jose Guerrero
Ova Charged adds the Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle to her stakes wins. Hodges Photography.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the “star” of the night was Ova Charged – the 6-year-old daughter of Star Guitar. Coming into the Mademoiselle with five consecutive wins, including the $400,000 Grade 3 Unbridled Sydney Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend.
Sent to the gates at overwhelming odds of 1/9, Ova Charged had no issues shooting right out of the gate contesting with early leaders Flashy Meg and Charlie T through a first quarter mile split of 21.75. With jockey Jose Guerrero in the irons for trainer Shane Wilson, the mare wrangled and maintained a four-length lead down the stretch. With a furlong to go, her strides shortened but was able to hold off a late charging 23-1 longshot, Luyv, for a one-length victory in 1:04.44 over 5 1/2 furlongs.
“She’s ran well in the mud before,” said Wilson. “We just wanted her to do just enough to win. I told Jose, ‘Try to open up and put the race away in the turn; just save what you got at the end and don’t ask her no more than you have to’ and he did just that.”
Ova Charged won for the 14th time in 17 attempts, which includes 11 stakes wins, for earning of $849,200.
“I have to give Star Guitar the credit,” said owner and breeder Evelyn Benoit. “I was so blessed to have Star Guitar and overly blessed to have Ova Charged. She possesses his exact mannerisms, too. Very calm and loves to race. We were excited to bring her back to Louisiana and race. She has a lot fans that love to see her run.”
The final order of finish was Ova Charged ($3.48), Luyv, Noneya, Charlie T, Beleout and Flashy Meg. Blessed Assurance and Lovelyredstillettos were scratched.
Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle honoree
Charles Ashy Sr.
Charles Ashy, Sr. (Lafayette, La.) is known for his longtime leadership as General Manager for Evangeline Downs. Ashy had a big impact on racing in Louisiana.
His work in bringing Off Track Betting and slots to the racetrack changed the landscape of racing in Louisiana. In 1966 Evangeline Downs became the first parimutuel racetrack in Louisiana not located around New Orleans. The track was in Carencro, a suburb of Lafayette, in Lafayette Parish. When Lafayette Parish voted gaming out of the Parish, Ashy’s efforts in the Louisiana legislature along with former Senator Don Cravins resulted in the first racino ever being built in America in St. Landry Parish.
Ashy also owned and operated the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Sales Company that conducted annual yearling and mixed horse sales.
Louisiana Legends Cheval
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO, 1 Mile
Tdzshininluckystar
Star Guitar – Tdz Mandycorrienda, by Medaglia d’Oro
Breeder: Tony Doughtie
Owner: Tony Doughtie
Trainer: Kent Knudsen
Jockey: Chris Rosier
Tdzshininluckystar scores his first career stakes win in the Louisiana Legends Cheval. Hodges Photography.
El Dinero was both the morning line and post time favorite, and rightfully so. The 3-year-old son of El Deal from the barn of Patrick Devereaux had won three stakes races since last November including the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince over an off track at Delta Downs. But, that’s why winners are declared after the race, not on paper.
Pulling the biggest upset of the night at 27-1 odds, Tdzshininluckystar used a sweeping wide move by jockey Chris Rosier to put the field away in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Cheval.
The lightly raced 3-year-old is the son of champion Star Guitar, and he ran up to his billed lineage.
Sonofaship set the early fractions of 24.16 for an opening quarter and a half-mile split in 47.63, with Strong Promise and Saint Gabriel chasing into the far turn. That’s when Rosier and Tdzshininluckystar had seen enough. The pair moved past three horses to win by two lengths in 1:39.33 over the mile course. El Dinero came charging late for second, but it wasn’t enough.
“His last start was a third-place finish in the Ragin Cajun here last week, but before that he was coming off a two-month layoff,” said winning trainer Kent Knudsen. “He’s a late developing horse, but he is coming around now.”
With only a previous maiden special weight victory on his resume, Tdzshininluckystar is now a stakes winner. Two wins in six tries for $108,800 for owner/breeder Tony Doughtie.
It was also a special moment after the race as Rosier celebrated with Louisiana great and three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey, Calvin Borel.
“For Calvin to be there 20 years ago when I first started to ride and him being here tonight, this is definitely my biggest win to date,” said Rosier. “I’m truly blessed. Just to be able smile again and enjoy riding, it’s emotional.”
The final order of finish in the Louisiana Legends Cheval was Tdzshininluckystar ($56.50), El Dinero, Take Charge J J, Sonofaship, Gamer Nate, Strong Promise, Saint Gabriel and Carpis. Brittany’s Dream was scratched.
Louisiana Legends Cheval honoree
Calvin Borel
Calvin H. Borel (born November 7, 1966) is an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing and rode the victorious mount in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the 2009 Kentucky Derby and the 2010 Kentucky Derby. His 2009 Derby win with Mine That Bird was the third biggest upset in Derby history, (after Donerail and Rich Strike), and Borel's winning margin of 6+3⁄4 lengths was the greatest in Derby history since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946. On May 1, 2009, Borel won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra, only the second time since 1993 that a jockey has won the Oaks-Derby combo, and just the seventh time overall a jockey has accomplished this feat in the same year. On May 16, 2009, Borel won the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico with thoroughbred filly Rachel Alexandra. In doing so, Borel became the first jockey to win the first two jewels of the Triple Crown on different mounts. Borel's nickname is "Bo'rail'" due to his penchant for riding close to the rail to save ground.
Louisiana Legends Soiree
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO Fillies, 1 Mile
Lightofmaine
Tapwrit – Pontiana, by Deputy Minister
Breeder: Baronne Farms, LLC
Owner: Maury Harrington and Christopher K. Harrington
Trainer: W. Bret Calhoun
Jockey: CJ McMahon
Lightofmaine pulls off her second stakes victory winning the Louisiana Legends Soiree. Hodges Photography.
Lightofmaine put the Louisiana racing world on notice earlier this year. With an upset win at 16-1 odds in the $100,000 Premier Night Starlet in February at Delta Downs, the 3-year-old daughter of Tapwrit, who was a $45,0000 purchase by owners Maury Harrington and Christopher K. Harrington, was ready for her encore.
With no racing luck on her side at the Fair Grounds, Lightofmaine returned to Evangeline Downs on May 3 and just missed by a neck in the $60,000 Cajun Miss Stakes (in the slop, too). Trainer W. Bret Calhoun sought an equipment change may be needed and, with blinkers off, Lightofmaine nearly went gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree.
“She really loves the mud, so we were hoping for rain,” said owner Maury Harrington. “We really love the fact that she tries every race. There is no quit in this filly.”
Lightofmaine forced most of the one-mile pace with early times of 23.55 and 47.10. As jockey C.J. McMahon and the filly put away 48-1 longshot Pip Squeek around the far turn, Lightofmaine dug in and held off rivals from Tommie G and Clearly a Test down the stretch to win by a length in 1:40.38.
“Once we got on the backside and I was able to kick her out, she relaxed and fell back into my hands,” said McMahon. “From there, it was all her. I knew some horses were coming, but this filly was waiting to engage. When they ran up to her, she kept digging deeper and deeper.”
Lightofmaine improved to 4-10 with earnings of $196,690.
The final order of finish was Lightofmaine ($12), Tommie G, Cleary a Test, Island Gold, Emily’s Bullet, Wonderrand, Accommodate Eva and Pip Squeek. Platinum Minit was scratched.
Louisiana Legends Soiree honoree
Edward “Eddie” Johnston
Johnston got his start on the racetrack hotwalking for his uncle, Alex Johnston. He began training in 1981, according to Equibase statistics, and remained a trainer throughout his life. Through Aug. 31, Johnston had won 558 races from 2,988 starts and his horses over the years have collected almost $13 million in earnings. His top horses included Louisiana's 2015 champion 3-year-old filly Pacific Pink and Louisiana's 2003 champion older horse Zarb's Luck.
Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Benard Chatters said that Johnston had served as a Louisiana HBPA board member and a longtime mainstay trainer in the state. Eddie passed away in 2021.
Louisiana Legends Turf
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & upward, 1 and 1/16 mile
Who Took The Money
Street Boss – Speights’ Colony, by Speightstown
Breeder: Allied Racing, LLC
Owner: Allied Racing, LLC
Trainer: W. Bret Calhoun
Jockey: C.J. McMahon
Who Took The Money edges Cosmic Train at the Louisiana Legends Turf finish line. Hodges Photography.
For those who don’t think every inch counts, think again. Who Took the Money needed every bit of the mile and sixteenth course to catch Cosmic Train to win by a nose at the wire in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf, which, of course, was also moved to the dirt due to rain, in 1:45.94.
There was not much early pace to run at for closers like Who Took the Money. Sonya Knows Better, Highland Creek and Benoit battled early in 24.93 and 49.51 as both Cosmic Train and Who Took the Money lingered at the back of the pack. Jockey Joel Dominguez and Cosmic Train were able to take a late lead when McMahon and Who Took the Money came from “out of the clouds” to nab his seventh career stakes trophy.
“I get along really well with this horse,” said McMahon. “He will tell you when he’s ready to go and he literally gave me everything today.”
Trained by W. Bret Calhoun, Who Took the Money is now 11-24 with earnings of $593,467. The 6-year-old gelded son of Street Boss won for just the first time since January 2023. He was previously 0-for-his-last-8 attempts.
The final order of finish was Who Took the Money ($9.40), Cosmic Train, Benoit, Highland Creek, Blue Cheese, Brian’s Iron Mike, Wise Verdict, Behemah Star and Sonya Knows Better. Calicoco, Moment of Stardom and Woods N Water were all scratched due to turf to dirt switch.
Louisiana Legends Turf honoree
Larry Robideaux
Larry Robideaux (born August 20, 1933 in New Orleans) was a multiple graded stakes winning trainer. He passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, in Bossier City, Louisiana. He was born in New Orleans and lived in Iowa, Louisiana, until he was 27. He attended Iowa High School and a few years at McNeese College. Larry was a United States Army Veteran. He started his training career in 1960 with one horse. Larry raced in all the tracks in Louisiana, Hot Springs, and Kentucky. He ran horses in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and won several thousand races. Breeders Cup elected Larry to the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 2014 and Person of The Year in 2015. He trained for 61 years. Larry was on the board of directors of H.B.P.A for several years.all of Fame in 2014 and Person of The Year in 2015. He trained for 61 years. Larry was on the board of directors of the H.B.P.A for several years.
Louisiana Legends Sprint
$100,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & upward, 5 1/2 Furlongs
Not On Herb
First Samurai – Toast to Ashley, by First Defence
Breeder: Summergrove Farm, LLC & Terry Gabriel
Owner: Crusarders Stable LLC
Trainer: David Terre
Jockey: Juan Vargas
Not On Herb turned out to be an amazing $20,000 claim by owners Crusaders Stable LLC last November at the Fair Grounds. The 4-year-old son of First Samurai has now won back-to-back stakes races.
With no issues at the start, jockey Juan Vargas kept Not On Herb forwardly placed down the backstretch with front runner Sharp Charlie, who blazed the first quarter in 22.39. As several horses neared the far turn, Vargas and his horse vied three wide, then kicked clear to win by nearly 3 lengths while covering the 5 1/2-furlong sprint in 1:04.54.
“Herb is a super horse,” said winning trainer David Terre. “We took the blinkers off him last race and it made a huge difference. He was able to settle back instead of wanting to be speed crazy.”
Not On Herb captured his sixth win in 12 starts with earnings of $225,470.
“This is a proud moment for Crusaders Stable,” said Ignatius “Iggy” Tusa, who is one of 10 friends that make up the ownership. “We all went to St. Aloysius High School together in New Orleans, which is no longer there. Our mascot was the Crusader. We stuck together and have been racing partners for the last 17 years. David Terre does a tremendous job with this horse.
Final order of finish was Not On Herb ($6.20), Clear as a Bele, Bertie’s Galaxy, Sharp Charlie, Mike J, Black Sword, Mangum, Autumns Strong Man, Craken Jax, Wild Bert and Harpeth River.
Louisiana Legends Spring honoring
Mark Guidry
Mark Guidry (born August 6, 1959, in Lafayette, Louisiana) is a former American jockey. He ranks 22nd among jockeys in career wins with 5,222 wins as of March 7, 2014, the date of his last ride. He subsequently announced his retirement from riding to become a jockey's agent. This was Guidry's second retirement. He initially retired in 2007 and did not ride again for 4 more years.
