PACIFIC PINK WEARS DOWN COMPETITION IN SPOTTED HORSE STAKES

By Michael Chamberlain —-

Pacific Pink; Coady Photography

JOCKEY COLBY HERNANDEZ WINS BOTH STAKES ON FRIDAY PROGRAM

OPELOUSAS, LA –Pacific Pink led a one-two charge for owner Keith Plaisance and trainer Edward Johnston in the $75,000 Spotted Horse Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Friday night. Plaisance also owns and Johnston also trains the runner-up in the race, Sunny Oak. Pacific Pink was ridden to victory by Colby Hernandez, who also captured the $50,000 Acadiana Stakes on Friday with Efforting for trainer Al Stall, Jr.

The character of the Spotted Horse Stakes changed significantly right at the start when the Steve Asmussen trainee, Danzatrice, unseated rider Gerard Melancon, who was able to walk away from the incident under his own power. Vieja Luna set a solid pace through early fractions of 23.46 seconds for the quarter and 47.10 for the half, while tracked by Sunny Oak and Steel Cut. As the field entered the stretch, Sunny Oak assumed the lead under Emanuel Nieves, but Pacific Pink was moved into the clear on the outside by Colby Hernandez and she charged to a convincing victory by 2-3/4 lengths. Sunny Oak out-finished Vieja Luna for second. The final time for the one mile over the fast track was 1:38.08.

Pacific Pink is a 5-year-old mare by Private Vow and is out of the Robyn Dancer mare, Truly Romantic. She was bred in Louisiana by Brandon Adcock.

Pacific Pink returned $13.60 to win, $5.60 to place and $4.20 to show. Sunny Oak paid $5.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Vieja Luna paid $3.60 to show.

Efforting; Coady Photography

The second stakes race on Friday night was the $50,000 Acadiana Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Efforting was sent off as the 7-5 betting favorite and lived up to that support by drawing off to a 3-1/2 length victory in a final time of 1:24.81. She settled nicely in behind the pacesetting Molly Rules at the outset. Molly Rules set a decent pace of 23.27 seconds for the quarter and 46.76 for the half, but once the field made the stretch, jockey Colby Hernandez moved Efforting to the front and she never looked back.

Efforting is a 3-year-old filly bred in Louisiana by Orange Grove Thoroughbreds, Inc. She is owned by Fair Grounds Racing Club, Inc. She is by Into Mischief and out of the Carson City mare, Get Going Bertie.
Efforting paid $4.80 to win, $3.00 to place and $2.40 to show. Rose Guitar ran second and paid $4.00 to place and $3.40 to show. Red La Rosa finished third and returned $4.80 to show.

Live racing resumes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night with a nine-race program featuring two more stakes races. The $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile includes the defending champion, Fear The Cowboy, but the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of eight is Iron Fist, who won the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup in February at Sam Houston Race Park. The $50,000 Lafayette Stakes also takes place on Saturday and the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the field of seven is Tigerstorm, who has won his two most recent races. Post time on Saturday night will be 5:25 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.

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