BARRERA, LARROSA AND ELITE THOROUGHBRED RACING, LLC WIN TITLES AT EVANGELINE DOWNS
THE 70-NIGHT SEASON CONCLUDED ON SATURDAY
OPELOUSAS, LA –Elio Barrera captured the first riding title of his young career at the recently concluded Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meet. Juan Larossa fended off a number of challengers in a tightly contested trainer race, while Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC (Michele Rodriguez) repeated as champ in the owner standings.
Barrera, a 22-year-old from Guatemala in his second full season of riding, finished the season with 80 wins from 420 mounts. With 84 runner-ups and 53 shows, Barrera found the winner’s circle with 19% of his mounts and lit the board with 52%. Barrera was one of five riders to eclipse the million-dollar mark in purse earnings, topping the list at $1,585,265. Tim Thornton was second with $1,241,775, followed by Juan Vargas with $1,218,135 in third, C.J. McMahon fourth at $1,142,630 and Jose Luis Rodriguez with $1,004,570.
The complete top 10 jockeys for the 2024 season were: Elio Barrera (80 wins), Tim Thornton (62), Juan Vargas (53), Jose Luis Rodriguez (48), C.J. McMahon (41), Tommy Pompell (28), Jose Guerrero (27), Joel Dominguez (25), Casey Fusilier (24) and Joe Stokes with 23 winners.
Trainer Juan Larrosa edged clear in the final couple of nights to capture the training title. Larrosa trainees were victorious in 33 races from 157 starters. His runners were second 24 times and finished third 26 times for a 21% winning clip, 53% in-the-money and earned a total of $574,860. Shane Wilson topped the earnings list with $698,430, followed by Bret Calhoun at $594,940 and Allen Landry at $581,455.
The complete top 10 in the trainer standings: Juan Larrosa (33 wins), Sam Breaux (27), Eduardo Ramirez (27), Allen Landry (26), Shane Wilson (24), Karl Broberg (22), Sam David, Jr. (22), Lee Thomas (21) and a tie for ninth between Sturges Ducoing and Bret Calhoun with 18 winners apiece.
Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC repeated as champ in the owner standings with 19 wins from 102 starters. Adding in 18 seconds and 11 shows, Elite Thoroughbred runners won at a 19% clip, hit the board 47% and earned a meet topping $429,555. Brittlyn Stable Inc. (Evelyn Benoit) finished second with $316,380 and Norman Stables, LLC (Robert Norman) was third with $304,470.
The complete top 10 in the owner standings were: Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (19 wins), End Athletics Inc. (16), Norman Stables, LLC (11), LJ Racing Stables LLC (11), Redwood QH Racing LLC (10), Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh (10), Sandy Badeaux (10), L and G Racing Stables (9), and Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC and Brittlyn Stable, Inc in a tie for ninth with 7 wins each.
Evangeline Downs will be dark for a few weeks. Live racing resumes with the start of the American Quarter Horse meet on Wednesday, October 2. Post time for the 46-day season will be at 5:35pm Central Time.
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.comand 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.