READY PROSPECTOR IS READY AGAIN IN THE EVANGELINE DOWNS PRINCE

By Michael Chamberlain —-

READY PROSPECTOR IS READY AGAIN IN THE EVANGELINE DOWNS PRINCE

OPELOUSAS, LA – Virginia Lazenby Racing Stable’s Ready Prospector was able to add a second stakes victory of the Evangeline Downs season to his steadily improving resume’ with a win in the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince. Ready Prospector had previously won the $75,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity on July 29.

Sent right into contention by jockey Gerard Melancon, Ready Prospector allowed Calimor to take the lead on the backstretch and settled into second. The early fractions were strong as the quarter-mile was covered in 22.20 seconds and the half-mile went by in 45.74 seconds. Ready Prospector reclaimed the lead on the far turn and then turned away late challenges by Land Battle and Hardworkcleanlivin to win by 2-1/2 lengths. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.41 over the fast track.

Ready Prospector was bred in Louisiana by Virginia Lazenby and is trained by Oscar Modica. He has won two of his three lifetime starts and the $30,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $80,200. Ready Prospector is by Custom for Carlos and out of the Not For Love mare, Vera Belle.

Ready Prospector paid $9 to win, $5.60 to place and $4 to show. Land Battle rallied late for second and paid $10.20 to place and $6.20 to show. Hardworkcleanlivin paid $3.60 to show.

The $50,000 Evangeline Downs Princess also took place on Saturday night and the winner was the invader from Prairie Meadows, Shes Our Fastest. Shane Laviolette, who had ridden the filly’s maiden-breaking win in Iowa, came to Evangeline Downs to score the victory.

Shes Our Fastest started slowly as “Shine” Young Futurity winner, She’screative, set a solid pace of 22.22 seconds for the quarter-mile and 46 seconds for the half-mile. However, as the field entered the stretch, Laviolette sent the filly three-wide to seize the lead. From there, Shes Our Fastest coasted home to a 3-1/2 length victory in a final time of 1:12.03 for six furlongs.

Shes Our Fastest was bred in Texas by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm. She is owned by Mark Norman and Norman Stables, LLC and trained by Scott Gelner. She is now two-for-two in her brief career and the $30,000 first-place purse increased her lifetime earnings to $48,450. Shes Our Fastest is by Oratory and is out of the Festival of Light mare, Dawali.

The winner returned $12.60 to win, $5.60 to place and $4.80 to show. Andthebandplayedon rallied for second and paid $5.40 to place and $4.20 to show. A 37-1 longshot, Girls Life, finished third and returned $10.60 to show.

Saturday night was the closing night of the 2017 Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs. Simulcasting will continue and live racing will resume with the start of the American Quarter Horse season on October 4. The season will run for 46 nights through December 19 with a first post time of 5:35 pm Central Time.

For more information on the Thoroughbred season 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.

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.