Benwill powers to victory in John Henry Stakes

OPELOUSAS, La. – Making just his second start in almost 11 months, Benwill stalked the early pace in Saturday night’s $60,000 John Henry Stakes at Evangeline Downs before powering clear turning for home to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths. Bauers Got Hours also staged a nice move the third quarter to cross the wire in second but came out turning for home to bother outer rivals. He was disqualified from second and placed sixth. Cavalero was elevated to the runner-up position via the disqualification, while Lucky Rave became the official third-place finisher.

Benwill ($23.60) returned to the races in the Dixie Poker Ace at Fair Grounds in March after being idle since last June. The 5-year-old son of Leestown signaled good things were in the making with a belated rally to finish third. On Saturday night, jockey Diego Saenz had plenty of horse in the drive and left no doubt about the outcome. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.56 over firm going.

“I was very confident going into the race. This guy had some issues but, in our program, has really come around,” said winning trainer Mike Burgess after the race. “I’m really excited. We have lots of options, and he is a versatile sort who can handle both the dirt and the grass. In fact, I’m thinking of trying him on the Polytrack.”

In winning for the fourth time and for the first time in stakes company, Benwill picked up $36,000 and increased his career bankroll to more than $143,000.