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Gerard Melancon Scores 5,000th Victory At Evangeline Downs

Evangeline Downs fans were treated to a historic evening as jockey Gerard Melancon picked up a milestone victory in the final race on Thursday. Melancon's heavily favored runner, Reposado, led gate-to-wire, as he became the newest member of the 5000-victory club. With countless friends and family in attendance, Melancon was able to celebrate early, even flashing five fingers as he crossed the wire in a 5-3/4 length victory.

The win was made more special as the victor was trained by longtime friend Glen Delahoussaye. Running for owner Charles Carlton, the gelded son of Shackleford, Reposado is out of the Two Punch mare Bronze Abe.

Melancon began his professional riding career at Delta Downs in 1984. His first victory came with his third career mount with Dash and Cash on February 9, 1984. His first victory over the original Evangeline Downs oval was astride Cajun Lawman on April 7 the same year.

A multiple graded stakes winning jockey, he piloted Bonapaw to a Grade 1 winning score in the 2002 Vosburgh at Belmont Park. Melancon claimed two editions of the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot, first with Saber Cat in 2011 and then with Rise Up in 2013. His most recent graded-stakes score came in 2019 in the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs with Mocito Rojo.

The native of Rayne, La. has ridden in over 31,900 races and his mounts have earned nearly $88 million in purse money. He recently passed Ramon Dominguez on the career wins list and the next rider to catch is Alex Solis with 5,035 wins.

He considers the 2004 Super Derby aboard Fantastic Cat his biggest win.

“It was a race I had dreamed about winning, and to do it twenty years into my career was pretty special,” he stated.

Several people have been integral in the storied career of Melancon.

“I have to thank my wife, Annette, for all of her support through the years. Manuel Robin was integral in giving me a chance to get started, and my agent Louis Coco has been a great partner for the past 25 years.”

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Nyquist Filly Tops OBS June Sale’s Second Session

Hip No. 543, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, went to Sweetwater Trading Co., Agent for Rockingham Ranch, for $420,000 to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age.

The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Friday's Under Tack session, is out of stakes winner Midnight Ballet, by Midnight Lute, a half sister to champion Jala Jala (MEX).

Hip No. 418, a daughter of Dialed In consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc, (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Alistair Roden Bloodstock for $350,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 on Friday, is a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Anothertwistafate out of Imprecation, by First Defense.

Karl and Cathi Glassman went to $335,000 for Hip No. 506, a son of Hard Spun who worked an eighth in :10 3/5 at Friday's Under Tack Session. Consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent, the bay colt is out of Lovisa, by Speightstown, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Poupee Flash.

Hip No. 319, a son of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Steven W. Young, Agent, for $280,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Thursday, is a half brother to stakes placed Burger and Fries (FR) out of Figarie, by Bernardini, a daughter of champion Flanders.

Hip No. 447, a daughter of Frosted consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, who turned in the Friday Under Tack session's fastest eighth in :9 4/5, was sold to John Ballantyne / N B S Stable for $250,000. The gray or roan filly is out of graded stakes winner Jody Slew, a half sister to stakes winner Cape of Bradford.

Larry Zap, Agent for Mike Mellen, went to $240,000 for Hip No. 623, a son of Ghostzapper consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, who turned in an Under Tack quarter on Saturday in :21 1/5. The bay colt is out of stakes winner Pacific Heat, by Unusual Heat, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Long Hot Summer.

Hip No. 487, a daughter of Liam's Map consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, was purchased for $230,000 by Mitch Weaver. The gray or roan filly, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 on Friday, is out of Let It Snow, by Tapit, a half sister to stakes winner Eagle Orb.

Hip No. 596, a son of Klimt consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent, was sold to James Divito, Agent, for $225,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth in :10 1/5 at Saturday's Under Tack session, is a half brother to graded stakes placed stakes winning OBS graduate Mo d'Amour out of Neverthesame, by Scat Daddy.

Oracle Bloodstock, Agent went to $220,000 for Hip No. 413, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The chestnut filly, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner American Sugar out of I Love America, by Quiet American, breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Friday's Under Tack session.

For the session, 191 horses grossed $8,149,600, compared with 173 selling for a total of $4,357,800 at last year's second session. The average was $42,668 up 69.4 percent compared with $25,190 a year ago, while the median price was $17,000, up 38.5 percent compared to $13,000 in 2021. The buyback percentage was 22 percent; it was 18.8 percent last year.

The June Sale concludes Friday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Hip No.'s 633 – 927 will be offered.

To view the session's full results, click here.

The post Nyquist Filly Tops OBS June Sale’s Second Session appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Author Jennifer Kelly To Serve As Paulick Report Weekend Editor

The Paulick Report is pleased to announce the appointment of author and historian Jennifer Kelly as its new weekend editor.

Kelly brings a wealth of writing experience to the role, having worked as a technical writer and college writing instructor before embarking on her first book titled 'Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown,' published by University Press of Kentucky in 2019. She was inspired to write the book on Sir Barton when she wanted to learn more about the first American Triple Crown winner and realized how few resources there were in place to tell his story.

Kelly is currently working on a second book titled 'Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown.'

“We are thrilled to have someone with Jennifer's passion for racing in our weekend editor role,” said editor-in-chief Natalie Voss. “I've enjoyed her work for years and am happy to have her unique perspective on our team of contributors.”

Kelly has been a horse racing fan since watching her first Kentucky Derby in 1988 and has been a speaker at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Keeneland Library, and Kentucky Derby Museum.

Kelly has previously specialized in research and writing for academic and business settings. She holds bachelor's degrees in English and French from the University of Montevallo and a master's degree in English from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. From there, she shifted to teaching first-year composition and technical writing for over a decade at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

“I am excited to join the team at Paulick Report,” said Kelly. “This is a team deep in talent and experience and I am grateful for the chance to be a part of a roster of turfwriters like this one.”

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Lone Star Overnight Purses Increasing

Officials at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that all overnight purses will be raised across the board by 20%, beginning with Friday's live racing program.

Purses that ranged from $12,000 for bottom-level claimers to $39,000 for open allowance races will now carry prize money between $14,400 and $46,800.

The Thoroughbred meeting at Lone Star Park continues through Sunday, July 11.

The post Lone Star Overnight Purses Increasing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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