Heitai gives trainer Broberg career win 1,000 in Need for Speed Stakes
OPELOUSAS, La. – Trainer Karl Broberg picked up career win number 1,000 in a big way Saturday night when he sent out Heitai to victory in the $60,000 Need for Speed Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Solar Charge mounted a furious late rally to finish a length back in second with Unitas another 2 1/4 lengths back in third.
Making his turf debut under Diego Saenz, Heitai ($2.60) broke a bit to the inside before Saenz straightened the 4-year-old gelded son of Fusaichi Pegasus and assumed command in the five-furlong turf dash. Heitai stepped the first quarter in a rapid 21.03 seconds and was in front by 3 1/2 lengths after a half in 43.84. Saenz went to work and found enough to hold the runner up safe in the late going before stopping the timer in 55.74 over firm going.
Heitai returned to the winner’s circle after a disappointing fifth-place performance as the odds-on favorite April 10 in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn. Prior to that setback, Heitai had put together four straight stakes scores in impressive fashion, while earning triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in all four. Overall, Heitai has now won eight of 19 starts, and Saturday’s $36,000 increased his career bankroll to almost $440,000. He also firmly stamped himself as the local favorite for the inaugural running of the $300,000 Evangeline Turf Sprint to be run June 21.
The win was one of three on the day for Broberg, who had 10 starters between Evangeline Downs, Lone Star Park, and Louisiana Downs. He won the eighth race Saturday at Lone Star and took the seventh and eighth races at Evangeline, as well.
Broberg, 43, registered the first training win of his career Nov. 7, 2009, at Retama Park. He had been an owner prior to training. Broberg has had 4,242 starters as a trainer for stable earnings of $14,362,469. He is a resident of Arlington, Texas.
Broberg has won 93 races so far this year, which places him in a tie for fourth in trainer wins in North America in 2014. He was second in trainer wins in 2013 with 243 and ranked fourth in the same category in 2012.
– additional reporting by Mary Rampellini