Louisiana Downs Press Release
The momentum is building for Louisiana Cup Day on Saturday, August 6 at Louisiana Downs with post time set for 1:45 p.m.
Many activities are planned for the day that salutes the thoroughbreds of Louisiana. Seven races will be contested, including six stakes, all with a purse of $67,000. The drawing for all six Louisiana Cup Day features will take place on Saturday.
The bets are as follows:
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred 5 ½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred 5 ½ furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Over F&M, LA-Bred Six Furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Over LA-Bred Six Furlongs
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Over LA-Bred 1 1/16 Miles (T)
$67,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff 3 YO & Over F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 Miles (T)
Coach Allen Landry targeting five, including Net a Bear to Cup Day
Each of Louisiana’s racetracks hosts a wagering day to salute Louisiana thoroughbreds. Last Saturday was Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs.
A well-known Louisiana-bred mare, Net a Bear did not disappoint as the favorite in the $75,000 Turf Distaff. With Tim Thornton aboard, the 6-year-old daughter of Awesome Bet made her usual late run and took the one-mile turf stakes, winning by 1 ¼ lengths.
Bred by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll, Net a Bear is owned by Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro and trained by Allen Landry. Since starting her career in 2018, the bay mare, versatile on turf or dirt, has won 12 of her 33 lifetime starts and after the victory at Evangeline Downs, she increased her earnings to $615,970 .
His first stakes win came at Louisiana Downs when he captured the 2019 Elge Rasberry and was a convincing win last year in the Louisiana Cup Distaff.
Notably, Net a Bear has been a stakes winner at each of Louisiana’s four tracks and will defend his title in the Louisiana Cup Day Distaff.
“She’s tough as hell,” Landry said. “Even when she gets in trouble, she clears it up and gives it her all. She just has an incredible turn of foot!”
He likes his chances with Vodka Gimlet for owner Ellen Epstein in the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic and believes World War IV Ranch Water is ready to make a good effort in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile.
“He won his first start, despite breaking the air and scrambling,” Landry explained. “When he came around the field and came running, we thought he had something special.”
Landry has been a standout in the Louisiana Cup, with wins for Chu Chu’s Legacy in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile and Rodney Verret’s Laughingsaintsong, who won the Louisiana Cup Day Sprint in 2019 and 2020.
“On July 25, we just ran it for a tag,” Landry said. “He’s getting older, but he had a third game.”
But there’s no way Landry will leave Net a Bear at any point in his racing career.
“We intend to run her until the end of the year and then she will be marked for her second run as a broodmare,” he said.
Free as a Girl to return to the Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
2021 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Champion 2-year-old filly Free Like a Girl will return to Louisiana Downs on Cup Day to run in the six-furlong Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
His unique story began when he was in foal to a mare named Flashy Prize. Retired jockey Kim Renee Stover and her sister, Lisa Osborne, were able to purchase the mare for just $500. He was born on the Stover farm in Starks, Louisiana on February 24, 2019.
Free Like a Girl was consigned to Carl Deville and his daughter, Chasey Deville Pomier and began her racing career for owner Gerald Bruno, Jr. who was second in open company at Lone Star Park.
On July 9 at Evangeline Downs, Free Like a Girl earned her first win. Pedro Cotto Jr. he got the call and has been their pilot so far.
Despite a poor break in the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Fillies on August 21 at Louisiana Downs, in which she saw off her rivals by ten lengths, she finished third. Free Like a Girl shined in the $60,000 DS Shine Young Futurity on Sept. 21 at Evangeline Downs and won back-to-back stakes at Delta Downs.
He dominated nine rivals in the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel on Oct. 22 and scored another impressive victory a month later in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat Stakes.
Her last two starts of 2021 came at Fair Grounds, where she finished second in the $100,000 Louisiana Lassie on Champions Day. But it left no doubt who was the top 2-year-old filly in the $109,600 Louisiana Futurity.
The filly quickly took command, extending her lead and crossing the wire in the six-furlong feature by 6 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:11.11.
Free Like a Girl began her 3-year-old campaign Feb. 5 in a gate-to-wire game on the day of the Louisiana Premier at Delta Downs, winning the $100,000 Starlet by four lengths.
Her connections sent her to Oaklawn Park, where she was fourth in the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee on Feb. 26 in the much-hyped Secret Oath.
“There were people who didn’t agree with her running out of Louisiana, but she deserved a chance,” Stover said. “We weren’t embarrassed.”
After winning the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree at Evangeline Downs, Free Like a Girl placed a creditable third in the $225,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) July 9 at Prairie Meadows.
Free Like a Girl has won seven of her 14 starts and has already accumulated $423,873 for owners Gerald Bruno, Jr; Carl J, Deville; Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom.
“She came out of the race well and we’re looking forward to running her at Louisiana Downs,” Stover said.
Louisiana Cup Day Festivities
Racing fans of all ages are invited to enjoy the festivities on August 6 at Louisiana Downs.
Family activities on the rink include live music, bouncy houses and water slides, face painting and more. In addition, enjoy tasty bites from the best food trucks in the city. And don’t forget to claim your FREE $5 bet while you’re at it.
The Handicap Preview Show starts at noon on Cup Day
John McGary, Louisiana Downs song announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a pre-race handicap preview at noon in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the Grandstand.
They will offer analysis and their picks for each of the races on the Louisiana Cup Day card. The seminar is free and open to all racing fans.
Louisiana Cup Day Scholarship Drawings
The LTBA will award two scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The draws will be made after the fifth race. The races start at 1:45 p.m. The student must be there to register between 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. at the designated registration booth. The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
Must be a full-time enrolled college student by Fall 2022.
Must be in good standing with the college or university.
Must be present at draw location to win.
Must have university identification number or Social Security number.
The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the university he is attending.
Trainer, jockey and owner leaderboard
As of July 27, Shane Wilson, who was honored as the 2021 Louisiana Down Leading Trainer, continues to outperform his conditioning peers with 35 wins and an impressive 64% in the money state.
Joey Foster and Greg Tracy combined for 20 winners with Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen in fourth. with 15 wins.
Last year’s leading jockey, Carlos Lozada, tied for first in the standings with Jose Guerrero. Both drivers have won 55 wins since the meeting began on May 7. Joel Domínguez and Alexander Castillo are tied for third with 21 wins each. Vincente Del Cid continues with 19 wins.
Emmanuel Nieves was injured two weeks ago and had successful surgery on July 25 to repair his broken right arm. He was third with 29 wins before the spill. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Wayne T. Davis is the leading owner with 13 wins to date. Greg Tracy is second with top 10 finishes and End Zone Athletics, Inc. Asmussen and Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC are tied for third with six wins each.
The 2022 Thoroughbred meet at Louisiana Downs began May 7 with live racing each Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The 84-day live racing season will conclude on September 27.
— Featured photo courtesy of Hodges Photography and Coady Photography
