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Diego Saenz, Eduardo Ramirez Take Leading Rider, Trainer Titles At Evangeline

Diego Saenz took charge of the jockey standings with a five-win night on the first Friday of the Evangeline Downs meet and never looked back. Finishing off the season with a two-bagger, Saenz finished the season with 116 victories from 403 mounts, a 29 percent winning clip. With 88 runner ups and 58 show placings, Saenz hit the board with 65 percent of his mounts and brought in $1,872,243 in earnings.

Three other riders brought in over one million dollars for their connections with their mounts. Tim Thornton was second behind Saenz with $1,611,046, followed by Pedro Cotto, Jr. with $1,340,315 and Joe Stokes with $1,235,400.

The complete top 10 jockeys for the 2021 meet were: Diego Saenz (116 wins), Tim Thornton (100), Pedro Cotto, Jr. (81), Joe Stokes (66), Roberto Morales (38), Kevin Smith (38), Gerard Melancon (37), Ashley Broussard (34), Casey Fusilier (34) and Antonio Quiles (26).

The long reign of Karl Broberg as the top trainer at Evangeline Downs came to an end on Saturday night. Capping off the season with three victories on the closing night card, Eduardo Ramirez drew off to capture his first training title. Ramirez, a former assistant in the Broberg brigade, saddled 44 winners on the season. Winning at a 31 percent clip, Ramirez finished the season five wins ahead of Broberg. The Ramirez barn tallied $541,682 in purse winnings for the meet. Karl Broberg runners did lead in that category, bringing in $624,546 for the meet.

The complete top 10 in the trainer standings were: Eduardo Ramirez (44 wins), Karl Broberg (39), Juan Larrosa (33), Scott Gelner (30), Allen Landry (26), Keith Bourgeois (23), Sam Breaux (21), Dale White, Sr. (20), Rylee Grudzien (19) and Ron Faucheux (18). Of the trainers in the top ten, Bourgeois runners had the highest strike rates with 34 percent winners and 72 percent on the board from his 68 total starters.

Jimmy Johnson's Red Rose Racing fended off the challenge of End Zone Athletics, Inc. to bring home the title in the owner's race. Red Rose Racing starters won 30 races from 88 starts, while finishing second 10 times and third 10 times, for a 34 percent winning percentage and 57 percent in the money. End Zone Athletics, Inc. was active at the entry box with a meet leading 144 starters that tallied a second-best 28 winners. The End Zone Athletics, Inc. runners led in money won with $434,936 in earnings followed by Joe Alfredo Castillo with $361,925 and Red Rose Racing with $300,307.

The complete top 10 in the owner standing were: Red Rose Racing (30 wins), End Zone Athletics, Inc. (28), Joe Alfredo Castillo (19), Dale White, Sr. (16), Rylee Grudzien (15), Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (12), Adriel Gonzalez (10), Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC (8), and a tie for ninth between George Santis and Sandy Badeaux with 7 wins apiece.

Evangeline Downs will be dark for a couple of weeks. Live racing resumes with the start of the American Quarter Horse meet on Wednesday, October 6. Post time for the 53-day season will be at 5:35pm Central Time.

For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.

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Diego Saenz Wins Evangeline Downs Jockey Title

Louisiana's Evangeline Downs wrapped up its 84-night meet Saturday with Diego Saenz taking home the leading jockey title. Saenz won 116 races at the meet from 403 mounts (29%) for earnings of $1,872,243.

Eduardo Ramirez, a former assistant to Karl Broberg, beat his former employer for the training title with 44 wins at the meet, good for 31% and earnings of $541,682. Jimmy Johnson's Red Rose Racing won the owner's race with 30 visits to the winner's circle (34%). Final earnings for the stable were $300,307.

Evangeline Downs kicks off its Quarter Horse meet Wednesday, Oct. 6.

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Feisty Fist Wins D. S. ‘Shine’ Young Futurity At Evangeline Downs

Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., wrapped up its 2021 Thoroughbred season on Saturday night with an 11-race program that featured the $60,000 D. S. 'Shine' Young Futurity for colts and geldings and recognition of the top horsemen for the meet.

The D. S. 'Shine' Young was won by Whispering Oaks Farm's Fiesty Fist. The 24-1 longshot was ridden to victory by jockey Kevin Smith, who got a leg up from trainer Steven Flint before the 5-1/2-furlong test for 2-year-olds.

Breaking from post nine in a 10-horse field, Fiesty Fist sat off the early pace of :22.08 for the opening quarter-mile and :45.92 for the half set by True Deal. As the field turned for home, True Deal held a narrow lead while riding the rail as Fiesty Fist and Tambourine Star were closing in during the final furlong. At the wire, Fiesty Fist passed the pacesetter by just a half-length to claim victory while Tambourine Star settled for third, another head behind the runner-up.

The final time for Fiesty Fist was 1:05.39 while racing over a track listed as muddy.

The win by Fiesty Fist was the second of his three-race career. He broke his maiden at first asking on May 20 before finishing sixth in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs on August 21. He earned $36,000 for his win on Saturday while raising his overall bankroll to $50,400.

Bred in Louisiana by Carrol J. Castille, Fiesty Fist is a 2-year-old bay gelding by Iron Fist, out of the Roman Ruler mare Sheza Roman Ruler.

Fans who backed Fiesty Fist at the wagering window were rewarded with payoffs of $51 to win, $27.80 to place, and $15.60 to show. True Deal paid $5.40 to place and $3.60 to show. Tambourine Star was worth $3.20 to show.

During the closing night race card, the leading horsemen for the meet were honored in the winner's circle between races. The meet's leading jockey was Diego Saenz with 117 wins. The leading trainer crown went to Eduardo Ramirez, who scored a training triple on the last night of racing and 44 wins overall for the meet. The leading owner title went to Jimmy Johnson's Red Rose Racing, whose runners were victorious 30 times during the 84-day stand.

Evangeline Downs kicks off the 2021 American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday, October 6. The highlight of the season will take place on December 18 when the track hosts the Louisiana Million Futurity for 2-year-olds. First post time each Wednesday through Saturday night during the season will be at 5:35 pm.

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Cox, Saenz Take Two Of Three Stakes On Sam Houston’s Closing-Night Program

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, closed out its 2021Thoroughbred racing season on Saturday, April 3, with Houston Showcase Night. Three exciting finishes on the newly formed racing event capped a very successful meet on a high note!

Sky Ride Returns to the Winner's Circle in the $75,000 Bucharest Stakes

The $75,000 Bucharest Stakes featured just five runners, with a solid showing once again by Triple V Racing LLC's Sky Ride to clinch back-to back stakes this meet.

The Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride won the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint on January 31 in a dead heat with Hollis. Jockey Leandro Goncalves was aboard in two very different finishes. Sky Ride won the Stonerside with a powerful closing effort, but this evening, the bay gelding pretty much did it on the front, and was able to hold off his rivals, covering seven furlongs in 1:24.28.

Goncalves, who notched his 2,000th career win here on March 27, took command at the half-mile mark, which was completed in :45.72. Heading into the final turn, he was able to build a commanding lead over his stablemate Good Scout, drawing off to an impressive eight length score.

“Last time he made up ground, but today we had a different plan,” explained Goncalves. “He just galloped around the track; I never hit him, just asked him and he responded. J.R. (trainer J.R. Caldwell) could have ridden him tonight.”

“Maybe I could have ridden him for the first 25 yards,” quipped Caldwell. “He's a great horse, won three races here, including two stakes. We pointed him to this meet, and we couldn't have asked for more. He was a little fresh today; I was a little surprised to see him on the lead, but it was a good win.”

Good Scout ridden by Ezequiel Lara, held for second. Gold Street ran third and Trumps Revenge completed the superfecta.

Sent off as the heavy favorite, Sky Ride ($2.80), has won five of his 16 starts and will be pointed to Lone Star Park, according to Caldwell.

The stakes is named in honor of the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set three track records at Sam Houston Race Park, including the lightning fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, as well as his 1:12.29 seven furlong clocking on May 4, 1996.

Raven's Cry Takes the $75,000 Miss HoustonTurf Stakes with a Powerful Closing Kick

The popularity of the Connally Turf Course at Sam Houston Race Park has grown in unprecedented fashion and attracted a very classy field of fillies and mares to the $75,000 Miss Houston Turf.

Raven's Cry (IRE) drew in from the also eligible list. The 4-year-old daughter of Raven's Pass had won three of her eight turf starts for owner Martin S. Schwartz. She's trained by Eclipse Award winning condition Brad Cox who gave the call to Louisiana-based jockey Diego Saenz.

Saenz guided the bay filly through fractions of :22.48; :46.19 and 1:11.48 before gaining the lead at the top of the stretch. She was able to hold off a late charge by Valentines Day, crossing the wire of the one mile turf feature in 1:36.09.

“I knew she was a nice filly,” said Saenz. “The pace set up very well for her today.”

Cox was in Kentucky winning the Grade 2,Toyota Blue Grass with Essential Quality, so assistant Ricky Giannini saddled Raven's Cry at Sam Houston.

“She drew pretty wide, but after her win at Fair Grounds, this was a good fit for her,” said Giannini. “Diego got her into a very good striking position.”

Love Partnership Interests LP's Valentines Day ran third in the $75,000 Jersey Lilly on January 31 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The 4-year-old daughter of Summer Front closed gamely for second under rider Lindey Wade. Brandon's Babe completed the trifecta with Iram Diego in the saddle. Our Iris Rose ran fourth, followed by Quick, Quick, Quick, Palio Flag, Curlin's Journey, After Red Son, Good Fight, Simple Pleasure, Miss Perfecta and early pacesetter Believe In Beauty (IRE).

Raven's Cry ($5.00) improved her career record to four wins from nine starts and purses of $116.748.

Royal Prince Makes Sam Houston Debut a Winning One in $75,000 Bayou City Stakes

In the final stakes race of the 2021 Sam Houston Thoroughbred meet, Royal Prince ($2.80) captured the $75,000 Bayou City Stakes for trainer Brad Cox and owner Steve Landers Racing LLC.

Jockey Diego Saenz gave Royal Prince a confident and well-timed ride in the final stake of the night. The pair stalked the pace and dueled with Holy Vow and Sophie Doyle in the stretch before pulling away to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I was trapped for a little while, but I got the chance to get out and he responded for me,” said Saenz.

The 1 1/16 miles event for 3-year-olds was contested on a firm turf course with a final time of 1:43.88.

Royal Prince was the heavy post-time favorite after winning his last out, the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes at the Fair Grounds in late February. The well-traveled colt had previously raced at Del Mar, Keeneland and Kentucky Downs before arriving at Sam Houston.

The 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince is out of Rose and Shine, by Mr. Sekiguchi, and was bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm.

“We wanted to take a logical step forward before we run him in a graded stakes,” added Gianinni. “This was a nice race after the Black Gold; he needed every inch, but got the job done.”

Holy Vow finished in second for trainer Scott Young, with Drivehappy closing to gain third for trainer Steve Asmussen. Texas Bad Boy, War Falcon, Red N Wild and I'm Money completed the field. Stans Hookin Bull was scratched.

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