OVA CHARGED CONTINUES HER WINNING WAYS IN MADEMOISELLE VICTORY

CALHOUN AND MCMAHON TEAM UP FOR TWO STAKE WINNERS

OPELOUSAS, LA –Evangeline Downs hosted the annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds with an exciting Louisiana Legends Night card on Saturday.  The slate featured six stake races each worth $100,000 for state-bred runners.  All races, including those previously scheduled for the turf, were contested over a sloppy main track.

Evangeline Downs honored Louisiana Legends throughout the evening.  Mark Guidry, Calvin Borel, Charles Ashy, Sr., Larry Robideaux, Joseph “Spanky” Broussard and Eddie Johnston were among the names nominated by fans for this year’s Legends Night festivities. 

The star of the night was Brittlyn Stable, Inc.’s (Evelyn Benoit) Ova Charged in the Mademoiselle.  One of the biggest favorites in recent memory at odds of 1/9, Ova Charged broke sharply and contested the early pace with Flashy Meg and Charlie T through an opening quarter-mile in 21.75 seconds.  Ova Charged, with jockey Jose Guerrero in the irons, kicked it into another gear and opened a three-length advantage over Charlie T, while Luyv made a wide bid through a half-mile in 45.14 seconds.

With a furlong to go, Ova Charged’s lead had extended to almost four lengths, but her strides shortened noticeably in the final 50 yards.  She may have caused her connections a bit of concern, but she held sway to win by a length over Luyv and a hard-charging Noneya a neck back in third.  The final time for the 5-1/2 furlongs was 1.04.44 in the race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Ova Charged is trained by Shane Wilson and wins for the 14th time in 17 starts.  With the winning share of $60,000, her career bankroll now stands at $849,200.

Bred by Brittlyn, Inc., Ova Charged was sired by Clear Creek Stud stallion Star Guitar.  The 6-year-old chestnut mare is out of the Dehere mare Charged Cotton.

Ova Charged, also a bridge jumper play with over $47,000 wagered in the show pool, returned $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.  Luyv paid $5.80, $3 and Noneya paid $2.20 to show.

Ova Charged with jockey Jose Andres Guerrero aboard wins  the $100,000 Louisiana Mademoiselle Stakes honoring Charles Ashy Sr. at Evangeline Downs.  Hodges Photography / Kimmy Burrow

Not on Herb captured his second stakes of the season with his victory in the Sprint.  The race for 3-year-olds and up was contested over the distance of 5-1/2 furlongs.

Away in good order with jockey Juan Vargas, Not on Herb was in close attendance of the early pace of 22.39 for the opening quarter-mile.  Sharp Charlie, Black Sword and Harpeth were among the early leaders as the field was well bunched into the turn.  Sharp Charlie held a narrow advantage as the field turned into the stretch, but Not on Herb was moving forward, while Bertie’s Galaxy battled on nearest the rail through four furlongs in 46.41.

Inside the final furlong Not on Herb kicked away in the center of the racetrack for an impressive 2-3/4 length victory.  Clear as a Bele found his best stride late and came flying home for second, a neck better than Bertie’s Galaxy as Sharp Charlie faded to fourth.  The final time was 1:04.54.

Trained by David Terre, Not on Herb captures his sixth win from 12 starts.  The $60,000 prize increases his career earnings to $225,470.

Owned by Crusaders Stable LLC (Leon Verriere, John Barker and Santiago Munoz, et al.), Not on Herb is a 4-year-old dark bay or brown gelding.  Bred by Summergrove Farm, LLC & Terry Gabriel, he was sired by First Samurai and is out of the First Defence mare Toast to Ashley.

Not on Herb returned $6.20 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.80 to show.  Clear as a Bele paid $12.60, $8.60 and Bertie’s Galaxy paid $8.80.

Not On Herb crosses the finish line with Juan Vargas aboard, winning the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint honoring Mark Guidry at Evangeline Downs. Hodges Photography.

Tony Doughtie’s Tdzshininluckystar pulled off the biggest upset of the night with a 27-1 stunner in the Cheval.  The race for 3-year-olds was contested at the distance of one mile. 

Tdzshininluckystar was away in good order but was allowed to settle in midpack as 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.

Jockey Chris Rosier sent Tdzshininluckystar after the leaders with a 4-wide bid and swept to the lead as the field moved through six furlongs in 1:12.71.  Favored El Dinero was commencing a bid from the back of the pack along with Take Charge J J. 

As the field charged to the wire, Tdzshininluckystar was able to maintain a safe margin of two lengths over El Dinero, with Take Charge J J another length back in third.  Fourth place finisher Sonofaship was subsequently disqualified and placed seventh for interfering with Strong Promise.  The winner stopped the clock in a time of 1:39.33.

Trained by Kent Knudsen, Tdzshininluckystar wins for the second time from 6 career starts.  With the winning check of $60,000, his bankroll grows to $108,800.

Bred by the owner, the dark bay or brown gelding was sired by Star Guitar.  He is out of the El Corredor mare Tdz Mandycorrienda.

TdzShininluckystar lit up the toteboard with prices of $56.60 to win, $14.20 to place and $8.20 to show.  El Dinero paid $2.40 and $2.20, with Take Charge J J returning $6.40.

Chris Rosier aboard Tdzshininluckystar wins the $100,000 Louisiana Legands Cheval honoring Calin Borel at Evangeline Downs.  Hodges Photography / Kimmy Burrow

For Harper, owned by Valene Farms LLC (Murray Valene), sustained a big rally from the back of the pack and pulled away to capture the Turf Distaff.  The race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up was one of two stake races moved to the main track after heavy afternoon rains.

The early tempo in the Turf Distaff was solid as Luminous Flight 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.  Jockey Joel Dominguez allowed For Harper to settle into stride at the back of the pack but was starting to move forward as the field reached the far turn. 

Norah G made a bid for the lead as the runners passed six furlongs in 1:13.08, but was quickly collared by the onrushing For Harper, with Sixth Anniversary and Wholelottamo trying in vain to stay with the top two.  In the run to the wire For Harper pulled away to win by 1-1/4 lengths, with Norah G maintaining a 3-1/2 length margin over Wholelottamo in third.  The winner finished the mile in 1:39.95.

Trained by Sturges Ducoing, For Harper is a winner for the sixth time in 19 career starts.  The $60,000 winner’s purse increased her earnings to $236,000. 

The 4-year-old bay filly was bred by the partnership of Clear Creek Stud & Theodore Brandon and was sired by Accelerate.  She is out of the Proud Citizen mare Holdontoyourdream.

For Harper returned $13.20 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.40 to show.  Norah G paid $3 to place, $2.80 to show and Wholelottamo paid $4.40.

For Harper with Joel Dominguez aboard wins the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff honoring Joseph Spanky Broussard at Evangeline Downs.  Hodges Photography / Kimmy Burrow

Lightofmaine fought gamely the entire trip to capture the Soiree in a race for 3-year-old fillies over one mile.  Away sharply under jockey C.J. McMahon, LightofMaine was locked in an early battle with Pip Squeek as the pair went through the opening quarter-mile in 23.55 seconds and a half-mile in 47.10. 

Entering the far turn, Lightofmaine had dispatched of a tiring Pip Squeek, but was faced with challenges from Tommie G and Clearly a Test as the field traversed six furlongs in 1:12.52.  As the leaders turned for home Lightofmaine continued to battle on as Tommie G and Clearly a Test were held at bay.  The winning margin in the Soiree was a length over Tommie G with a half-length to Clearly a Test in third.  Favored Accommodate Eva never threatened and finished a disappointing seventh.  The winner finished the eight furlongs in 1:40.38.

Owned by the team of Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington, Lightofmaine wins for the fourth time from 10 starts.  The $60,000 winning share for the W. Bret Calhoun trainee increases her bankroll to $196,690.

The dark bay or brown filly was bred by Baronne Farms LLC.  Sired by Tapwrit, she is out of the Deputy Minister mare Pontiana.

Lightofmaine paid $12, $5.80 and $4.  Tommie G paid $11, $5.20 and Clearly a Test paid $3.40.

Lightofmaine, with CJ McMahon aboard, wins the$100,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree honoring Eddie Johnston at Evangeline Downs. Hodges Photography - Kimmy Burrow

Who Took the Money needed every yard of the mile and a sixteenth distance of the Turf to catch Cosmic Train in the closest finish on the Legends Night card.  The Turf, a race for 3-year-olds and up, was also moved to the main track.

The early pace in the Turf, while not overly fast, was closely contested as Sonya Knows Better, Highland Creek and Benoit battled early through splits of 24.93 and 49.51.  Cosmic Train and Who Took the Money lingered at the back of the pack as the field raced towards the far turn.  Cosmic Train made a bold bid to challenge Benoit for the lead as they passed six furlongs in 1:14.19.  Jockey C.J. McMahon and Who Took the Money were forced to take the overland route and were getting their bid started as the field hit the top of the stretch.

It took every inch of the stretch, but Who Took the Money was up in the final jump to nail Cosmic Train by a nose in a photo finish.  Benoit battled until late but came up just three-quarters of a length short in third.  The final time was 1:45.94. 

Trained by W. Bret Calhoun, Who Took the Money is a winner for the eleventh time in 24 career starts.  His career bankroll stands at a robust $593,467 with the $60,000 winning share.

Owned and bred by Allied Racing Stables, LLC (Chester Thomas), Who Took the Money is a 6-year-old chestnut gelding sired by Street Boss.  He is out of the Speightstown mare Speights’ Colony.

Who Took the Money returned $9.40 to win, $4.80 to place and $4 to show.  Cosmic Train paid $10.80, $8.20 and Benoit paid $13.40.

Who Took The Money crosses the finish line with CJ McMahon aboard, winning the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf honoring Larry Robideaux at Evangeline Downs. Hodges Photography - Kimmy Burrow