Vicente Del-Cid pulled away in the final weeks to repeat as the top jockey at the recently concluded Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meet. Bolstered by a 4-win night with a week to go, Del-Cid finished the season with 76 wins from 380 mounts. Add in 41 runner-up finishes and another 63 shows, his mounts won at a 20% rate and hit the board in 47% of his chances, while earning $1,513,675. The champion jockey led a trio of riders to eclipse the million-dollar mark in purses. Tim Thornton was second with $1,409,235 and apprentice Elio Barrera was third with his mounts earning $1,312,420.
The complete top 10 jockeys for the 2023 season were: Vicente Del-Cid (76 wins), Elio Barrera (64), Tim Thornton (55), Juan Vargas (42), C.J. McMahon (41), Jose Luis Rodriguez (29), Joel Dominguez (25), Joe Stokes (23) and a tie for ninth between Thomas Pompell and Casey Fusilier with 21.
Trainer Lee Thomas emerged as the leading trainer in a tight battle that came down to the final night of the season. Thomas trainees were victorious in 24 trips to the post from 98 starters. His runners hit the board at a solid 48% rate and topped the list with $540,055 in purses, just ahead of the Allen Landry barn with $506,425.
The complete top 10 in the trainer standings: Lee Thomas (24 wins), Eduardo Ramirez (22), Sam Breaux (22), Juan Larrosa (21), Allen Landry (20), Karl Broberg (18), Sturges Ducoing (15), Edith Mojica (15), Keith Bourgeios (15), and Jayde Gelner (13).
Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (Michele Rodriguez) topped the owner standings with 17 wins from 76 starters. With nine places and 10 shows, Elite Thoroughbred runners hit the board 47% and earned a meet leading $310,925. Other owners to surpass the quarter-million mark in earnings included End Zone Athletics ($260,945), Set-Hut LLC ($237,520), Whispering Oaks Farm LLC ($237,390), and Norman Stables ($226,290). Owner Sandy Badeaux runners won at a 32% strike rate, best among the top 10.
The complete top 10 in the owner standings were: Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (17 wins), End Zone Athletics (14), Sandy Badeaux (12), Norman Stables, LLC (9), Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC (7), Mojica Stables, Inc. (7), Jason Grudzien (7), Tres Portillos Ranch Inc. (7), and L and G Racing Stables and Set-Hut LLC with 6 wins apiece.
Evangeline Downs will be dark for a few weeks. Live racing resumes with the start of the American Quarter Horse meet on Friday, September 29. 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. 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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