Free Like a Girl takes Mademoiselle, stays perfect at Evangeline
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Free Like a Girl picked up Louisiana-bred horse of the year honors Saturday afternoon and a few hours later backed up the title by winning the $100,000 Mademoiselle on the Louisiana Legends card at Evangeline Downs.
The race was one of six stakes for Louisiana-breds, with each worth $100,000. The races made for the richest card of the meet, and they were held following an ontrack banquet during which the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association honored the state’s leading horses and breeders.
Free Like a Girl ($3.80) stalked fractions of 22.50 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.22 for the half-mile before covering the 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:05.17. She won by 1 3/4 length over Beleout, on a track rated fast.
Tim Thornton was aboard the winner for Chasey Deville-Pomier, who co-owns and trains Free Like a Girl. She is now 5 for 5 at Evangeline, which conducts a summer meet that runs into August.
“With the heat, we just try to keep her happy,” Deville-Pomier said.
Free Like a Girl was winning the 12th stakes race of her career in the Mademoiselle. Overall, she is 13 for 27 for career earnings of $930,378.
Deville-Pomier said a goal is to reach $1 million in earnings with Free Like a Girl, who is a 4-year-old daughter of El Deal. The filly also races for Gerald Bruno Jr., Carl Deville and Jerry Caroom.
In other races, Woods N Water overtook pacesetter and favorite Carlea’s Dream at the top of the stretch and went on to a 1 1/2 -length victory in the Turf. Budro Talking finished second, while it was another length back in third to Deer Crossing.
Woods N Water ($5.80) covered the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.28. There were no fractional times posted during the running of the Turf.
Thomas Pompell was aboard the winner for Lee Thomas. Woods N Water, who is by Palace, races for the partnership of Richard Painter and Dewberry Farm.
Cheapskate Diva ($11.40) started the night’s stakes action with a 2 1/2-length win over A G’s Charlotte in the Turf Distaff. It was a nose back in third to Wholelottamo.
Cheapskate Diva tracked the pace set by Eve’s Delight and went on to cover the mile on firm ground in 1:35.80. Carlos Marquez was aboard the daughter of Animal Kingdom for Keith Plaisance and trainer Joseph Felks.
* Black Sword ($6.40) was a two-length winner over Big Chopper in the Sprint. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to pacesetter Grunt. Black Sword sat just off fractions of 22.27 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.15 for the half-mile before winning the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:04.84. Vicente Del-Cid was aboard the son of Awesome Sword for Treanor MD and trainer Ronnie Averett.
* Allnight Moonlight ($6) was a neck winner over Mangum in the Cheval for 3-year-olds. The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 1:39.59. Thornton was aboard the son of Ransom the Moon for Roger G. Smith and trainer David Terre.
* Louisiana Liberty ($23.20) rallied to catch 4-5 favorite Star Moment and win the Soiree for 3-year-old fillies. The winner covered the mile on a fast track in 1:40.79. Gerard Melancon was aboard the daughter of Cloud Computing for Whispering Oaks Farm and trainer Steve Flint.
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