BIG CHANGES A REPEAT WINNER IN THE $50,000 JOHN HENRY STAKES

By Michael Chamberlain —-

Big Changes; Coady Photography

GELDING SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS TITLE AT EVANGELINE DOWNS AFTER WINNING 2017 EDITION AT LOUISIANA DOWNS

OPELOUSAS, LA – Big Changes didn’t change a thing in the $50,000 John Henry Stakes from 2017 to 2018. The gelding managed to claim a second straight victory in the race after an expert ride from Colby Hernandez, who kept him close to the pace and after taking the lead withstood the closers for a one-length victory. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf course was a hand-time of 1:4393.

The John Henry Stakes started with an issue when Sir Genghis broke through the gate prematurely and unseated rider Kerwin Clark. The stewards declared the gelding a non-starter for pari-mutuel purposes and Clark walked off under his own power following the incident. A 23-1 longshot named Itsthebourbontalkn took the lead and set the pace throughout the early stages with Big Changes shadowing him all the way around the racetrack. Big Changes then moved to the lead in mid-stretch and had to hold off the closing charges of Mageez and In the Navy, both of whom were well behind the pace early on, to secure the victory.

Big Changes was sent off as the 2-5 betting favorite and paid $2.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Mageez paid $4.60 to place and $4 to show. In the Navy returned $3.60 to show.

Big Changes was bred in Florida by Joanne Crowe and Joe Pickerrell. He is owned by Steve Landers Racing, LLC. and is trained by Brad Cox. The 6-year-old gelding is by 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Midshipman, and is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare, Colorama. He has won six of 18 starts in his career and the $30,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $275,350.

Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume on Wednesday night with an eight-race program. Post time on Wednesday will be 5:50 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.