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Evangeline Downs’ Thoroughbred Season Begins April 28

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will kick off its 2021 Thoroughbred season on Wednesday, April 28. The 84-day meeting will run through September 18 with live racing scheduled each Wednesday through Saturday night beginning at 5:50pm Central Time.

Evangeline Downs offers a one-mile dirt track and seven-furlong turf course. The state-of-the-art facility is a perfect venue for race fans to watch the action from the track apron or high above the track in the climate controlled, indoor clubhouse. Either way, the crowd is sure to be entertained.

Many familiar names will return to the track to compete this year at Evangeline Downs. Jockey Tim Thornton will look to repeat as leading rider after taking the crown in 2020 with 73 trips to the winner's circle. Thornton recently won his third consecutive riding title at Evangeline Downs' sister racetrack Delta Downs during their recently completed 2020-21 season.

Karl Broberg will be the odds-on favorite to capture another training title in Opelousas this year. During the 2020 meeting he led all trainers with 23 wins and his barn earned a season high $374,150. Broberg recently won his 10th straight training title at Delta Downs and is annually one of the top conditioners in the country. He led the nation in wins from 2014 – 2019 before finishing second to Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen in 2020.

Other prominent horsemen who are expected to compete at Evangeline this year include Ron Faucheux, who recently won the 2020-21 training title at Fair Grounds; Scott Gelner, who finished second in the standings to Broberg at Delta Downs this year; and Isai V. Gonzalez, who finished fifth in the recent Delta Downs standings and whose barn has been getting plenty of notoriety in recent years.

Evangeline Downs will offer several stakes races for local horsemen to take part in this year. The 14-race schedule features $820,000 in total purse money with the richest stakes program of the season set for Saturday, June 5 when the track hosts another edition of Louisiana Legends Night. The action-packed program will include six added-money events highlighted by the $60,000 Chaval Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $60,000 Louisiana Legends Turf for older horse competing at 1-1/16 miles on the grass.

The stakes schedule will wrap up on closing weekend of the season, Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18 with two divisions of the 'Shine' Young Futurity. Last year's filly division was won by Larry Romero and Ron Faucheux's Mirabeau and the colts and geldings division was taken by Allen Landry's Chu Chu's Legacy.

For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

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Derby Notes: Improving O Besos Shows Strong Gallop Out In Final Breeze

Bernard Racing LLC, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos was the lone Derby contender to breeze Thursday at Churchill Downs where he cruised a half-mile in :48.

With jockey Marcelino Pedroza in the saddle, O Besos began his work at the three-furlong pole and worked through early fractions of :12 and :36.20. Pedroza shook the reins at the Orb colt at the wire where he picked up his tempo through a five-furlong gallop out of 1:00 and continued six furlongs in 1:12.60.

O Besos will have a scheduled walk day Friday when at least 16 Derby and Oaks contenders are scheduled to have their final works. They are: Ava's Grace (Oaks), Bourbonic (Derby), Coach (Oaks), Competitive Speed (Oaks), Dynamic One (Derby), Helium (Derby), Highly Motivated (Derby), Keepmeinmind (Derby), Known Agenda (Derby), Malathaat (Oaks), Sainthood (Derby), Search Results (Oaks), Soup and Sandwich (Derby), Starrininmydreams (Derby), Travel Column (Oaks), Will's Secret (Oaks).

The National Weather Service is calling for a 90 percent change of precipitation Saturday morning in Louisville and Lexington. At Keeneland, Derby contenders Hidden Stash and Like the King could move their works to Friday, according to their respective trainers.

At Santa Anita, Zedan Racing Stable's Medina Sprit worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 and is slated to arrive at Churchill Downs Friday at 1 p.m.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – Friday will be the work day for trainer Todd Pletcher's Kentucky Derby quartet.

“The forecast keeps changing, but it is looking dicey for Saturday,” Pletcher said after his runners galloped 1 3/8 miles over a fast track Thursday morning. “Twenty-four hours won't make a difference.”

Pletcher plans to work three of the Derby horses at 7:30: St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, and WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood with exercise rider Amelia Green aboard.

Calumet Farm's Bourbonic likely would work at 9 o'clock with exercise rider Hector Ramos aboard.

Ramos was aboard Known Agenda this morning at 7:30 and 20 minutes later on Bourbonic while Green partnered Sainthood at 7:30 and Carlos Perez Quevedo was on Dynamic One at 7:30.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich stretched their legs Thursday morning on the eve of their planned final Derby preparations. Helium, with Paolo Levi aboard, and Soup and Sandwich, with Gilbert Hernandez, both galloped 1 ½ miles for trainer Mark Casse.

“They'll both breeze tomorrow; Helium will go around 5:25 and Soup and Sandwich will go at 7:30,” Casse's assistant David Carroll said. “They'll just go an easy half-mile. They both had their major works last week and came out of it extremely well. Tomorrow will just be a maintenance move. Normally we'd go Saturday but with the forecast we'll back it up a day and play it on the safe side.”

Helium, who is undefeated in three starts, and Soup and Sandwich, who is 2-for-3, are both lightly raced and full of potential, though that's where the similarities end.

“They are two different types of horses to train,” Carroll said. “Helium is a really beautiful mover and gets over the ground and trains into the bridle while Soup and Sandwich has his own way of going, but when he breezes, he's all business.”

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated came out onto the track under Peter Roman shortly after 7:30 and galloped then walked to the starting gate during the 15-minutre training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

Trainer Chad Brown was pleased with what he saw and will keep an eye on the weather for the Blue Grass (G2) runner-up's final work.

“It went fine and it was good to get that out of the way,” Brown said. “I'm just trying to figure out now when I'm going to try and breeze. I'm going to watch the weather; I'd prefer to work him Saturday morning before the rain comes. I was speaking to the track superintendent and looking for a little guidance on that.”

HOZIER – Rebel Stakes (G2) runner-up Hozier galloped a mile and a half at 9:15 under exercise rider Joel Osorio for trainer Bob Baffert.

Hozier is No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's Keepmeinmind galloped a mile and a half a little before 6 o'clock with Walter Davila aboard for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) here last fall, Keepmeinmind is scheduled to work shortly before 6 o'clock Friday morning.

“David Cohen is flying in tonight to work Ava's Grace (for the Oaks) and Keepmeinmind and then fly back to ride that afternoon at Oaklawn Park,” said Sean Williams, assistant to Diodoro. “We put Walter on him this morning to get a feel for him in case something happens and David doesn't get in.”

Keepmeinmind is No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimney's Farm's King Fury galloped 1 ½ miles during the reserved time for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses. The winner of the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in his most recent start is expected to have his final workout on Saturday, according to Greg Geier, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek. He's at No. 21 on the Derby points leaderboard and needs a defection to make the field of 20.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon and Erv Woolsey's and Keith Asmussen's Super Stock each had an easy Thursday morning as they readied for their final Derby works in the coming days for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Midnight Bourbon stood in the starting gate and galloped a mile and Super Stock backed up to the wire and galloped a mile and a quarter,” Asmussen's longtime assistant Scott Blasi said.

Blasi indicated that Super Stock will work Saturday, followed by Midnight Bourbon on Monday

O BESOS –Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos worked a half-mile in :48 early Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

“We're really pleased with how the overall work went and how strong he galloped out,” trainer Greg Foley said. “Our horse has shown improvement in every start so far. We think leading up to the Derby he's going to keep showing that improvement and run a big effort. He'll be ready to make a run at the field at the top of the stretch.

“We had some distance questions when we ran in the Louisiana Derby but he was the only horse in the field that day who was making up any ground.”

O Besos will have a scheduled walk day Friday.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams is scheduled to work early Friday morning, according to trainer Dallas Stewart.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Caddo River (TBA, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Dream Shake (TBA, Peter Eurton).

Next up in order of preference: Hozier (TBA, Bob Baffert); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

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Lost And Found Presented By LubriSYNHA: Channing Hill May Not Be Done Riding Yet

Life for a jockey can change in an instant. For Channing Hill, unrelated events took him in a new direction and in hindsight could be viewed as setbacks or opportunities.

A 2005 Eclipse Award finalist as outstanding apprentice, Hill sees the proverbial glass as half full. A year after being sidelined by severe neck and back injuries, he is relishing time with family as he eases closer to a return to the saddle.

“I am lucky,” he said. “I have seen these same types of injuries and how much different it can turn out. I feel very fortunate.”

Hill was injured at Oaklawn Park when his mount went down on April 17, 2020. Three days later, he underwent surgery in Hot Springs, Ark., and shortly thereafter returned to his Louisville home. He has no timetable, but is optimistic for a return.

“I am just taking it as it comes,” Hill said. “I don't want to push myself now and maybe get worse later on. I am going to let my body and my doctors tell me when I am ready.”

Except for issues with his left hand, Hill said he is in great shape for looking after the three children he has with wife Shelbi, daughter of trainer Wayne Catalano. The youngest two — at ages 18 months and nearly three — have the usual age-related requirements, while their 7-year-old son gave him a surprise assignment he could not foresee. In addition to his role as a dad, Hill took on the job of educator when schools closed due to the pandemic. Like so many youngsters who were required to stay home and learn virtually, Waylon did not adapt well.

“I became his teacher,” Hill said.

Fortunately, that task concluded when schools reopened this spring after nearly a year. The Hill clan will summer in the Chicago area this summer while Shelbi works for Arlington Park in what is expected to be the track's final season.

“I will stay home with the kids and try to get better and healthier and see where the year takes me,” he said. “I feel really good. I have been doing some exercising on my own. I really can't use my left hand but the rest of me feels really good.”

Like father, like son

In some ways, Hill's lifestyle mimics his own upbringing in which he was closely connected to his father, Allan Hill, a Nebraska exercise rider and jockey.

When he was about 12, he began traveling the racing circuit with his father, who won 667 races from 8,520 mounts. The experience included working at odds jobs in the jockeys' quarters that inspired his interest in following his father's career. He had no personal knowledge of horses until he took lessons on ponies at the farm of a family friend. A natural talent, he quickly graduated to Thoroughbreds.

As soon as he turned 16, Hill obtained his jockey's license and rode his first three races at the track in Columbus, Neb., in 2003. By 2004, after competing at Columbus, Lincoln Park, and Prairie Meadows, he shifted his base to Aqueduct. He was a logical choice for the Eclipse Award when he closed 2005 with 135 wins and $5 million in purses. With slightly better statistics, the honor went to Emma-Jayne Wilson, who sat near Hill, his father and friends at the awards ceremony at the legendary Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“The one thing that struck me as the biggest that night was Emma-Jayne,” he said. “She and her agent were the nicest, most gracious winners I have ever seen. They were so classy. That made me cheer for her even more.”

As Hill proceeds to his return to racing riding, his record stands at 1,204 victories and $51,355,057 in earnings from 10,987 mounts. His triumphs include the Grade 1 Forego Handicap in 2008 for Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms on First Defence. Other achievements include several graded scores aboard Catalano-trained Farrell and finishing third in the 2017 Preakness Stakes aboard Senior Investment.

As Hill looks forward to adding to his stats, he is capitalizing on his extended holiday.

“I am happy that I am able to be home and take this as an opportunity to be with my family,” he said. “This is the only way a jockey can get a long vacation. I am maximizing my time with my kids for however much time I have off.”

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Equibase Analysis: Keeper Ofthe Stars Able To Best Male Rivals In San Francisco Mile

This Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes is a regularly anticipated feature during the Golden Gate Fields spring meeting. Not only is it a graded stakes with a quarter million dollar purse, it's sandwiched between a great trio of races with the California Derby preceding and the California Oaks following this race.

Five of the eight entrants in this year's San Francisco Mile ship up from Santa Anita in anticipation of victory. Among that group, the mare Keeper Ofthe Stars has some of the best credentials, having won the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes last May. She also sports a perfect three-for-three record on the Golden Gate turf course.

Ohio has won 11 races in his career for $639,298 in lifetime earnings, a good portion of that when winning the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March of 2019. Restrainedvengence has banked $642,182 to lead the field in earnings, his wins including the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap last September.

Kiwi's Dream missed by a head when second in last year's San Francisco Mile and is a horse which has led through the opening half-mile in each of his last seven races. Whisper Not finished third in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile last December and enters the race off a sharp win at Santa Anita. Border Town finished third in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes in February. Brown Storm is winless in six races since coming to the U.S. from South America and like Kiwi's Dream appears to be a need-the-lead type, as does Diamond Blitz, who is stepping way up in class after facing claiming level horses for the past two years.

Keeper Ofthe Stars checks all the boxes when it comes to predicting which horse has the highest probability to win this year's San Francisco Mile Stakes. A winner of six of 13 career starts on turf, the mare beat some of the top fillies and mares in the U.S. last year twice in a row, first when winning the Buena Vista Stakes in February at this mile trip with a 112 ™ Equibase® Speed Figure and second when taking the Gamely Stakes last May with a career-best 115 figure. After a couple of disappointing efforts in June and August, Keeper Ofthe Stars was given time off, returning in top form following eight months off to win on the Golden Gate turf three weeks ago. Having put together back-to-back wins twice in the last 18 months and with a lot of improving to do physically in her second start back from a layoff, this mare (who gets a five pound weight break versus her male rivals) is the one to beat.

Ohio also enters this race off a sharp effort in victory, winning the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap at Turf Paradise for the third year in a row. With that win, Ohio brought his record at one mile on turf to seven for 20, including when victorious in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March, 2019, with a career best 119 figure. In the fall of that year, Ohio finished second in the Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate. His win in the Fitzsimmons Stakes came in his second start back following 10 months off so like Keeper Ofthe Stars, Ohio can be expected to improve off the 104 figure earned last time out and could give Keeper Ofthe Stars all she can handle in the stretch run.

Restrainedvengence is certainly no slouch, having earned more than any other horse in the field. His best effort may have been when beaten a head in the City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in the fall of 2019 where he earned a 113 ™ figure, but he also ran just as well when capturing the All American Stakes last May at Golden Gate with a 112 figure. Like the other two top contenders, Restrainedvengence is likely to improve, having returned from five months off in March when sixth then running a much better race last month when second in the Santana Mile Stakes. Although he finished fourth in last year's San Francisco Mile, Restrainedvengence won his only other start on the Golden Gate turf course and must be respected as a contender to win in this year's race.

The rest of the field, with their best representative ™ Equibase® Speed Figures, is Border Town (109), Brown Storm (105), Diamond Blitz (96), Kiwi's Dream (112) and Whisper Not (109).

Win Contenders:
Keeper Ofthe Stars
Ohio (BRZ)
Restrainedvengence

San Francisco Mile Stakes – Grade 3
Race 9 at Golden Gate Fields
Saturday, April 24 – Post Time 7:45 PM E.T.
One Mile on Turf
Three Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $250,000

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