Highly Wicked puts perfect local turf record on the line in Turf Distaff
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Highly Wicked will attempt to remain unbeaten over the Evangeline Downs turf course on Saturday night, when she puts a 7-for-7 local record on the line in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf Distaff.
The race is one of six Louisiana-bred stakes on the card and each is worth $100,000. The divisional races honor Louisiana industry legends, and this year’s group is jockeys Kerwin “Boo Boo” Clark, Eric Guerin, and Abe Hawkins; breeders Joe Adcock and John Franks; and trainer Dale Angelle.
Highly Wicked’s fondness for the Evangeline turf began April 19, 2023. She won a first-level allowance that night before going on to win six more times on the local course. Her record at Evangeline includes four stakes wins, including last year’s Turf Distaff and the Bon Temps in her most recent out April 10. Overall, she is 11 for 13 on turf.
“She’s run on every turf course well, but this one here she just seems to really relish and why, I don’t know,” trainer Sam David Jr. said. “I guess it’s a little different than the one down at the Fair Grounds. But she gets over this really good, seems to really like it.
“She came from the Fair Grounds to here, and I think this was the first place she ran on the turf. I think she’s only been beat once or twice on any [course], but this one here – seven for seven – and just seems to get over it really easily.”
Highly Wicked will be looking for her third straight stakes win. She won the Red Camelia for the second time in her career Feb. 28 at Fair Grounds. She returned to Evangeline last out and was a five-length winner in the Bon Temps.
“She ran super,” David said. “She was a little bit farther back than usual, which is something she’s doing more and more of. When she first came around she had to be on the lead, a real speed, one-dimensional type horse.
“As she’s matured, gotten a little older, she’s much better at relaxing early and then making a run, which helps her, I think, in the long run. She doesn’t have to worry about a speed duel out there. It’s really helped her style of running, you know, so she doesn’t have to make the lead. That’s really changed lately and last time she was even a little farther back.”
Highly Wicked will break from the rail for her third straight race. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has the mount for her breeders, Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez, and John Duvieilh.
◗ Ragtime Wine, who is unbeaten in three starts, brings a 94 Beyer Speed Figure into his stakes debut, the Sprint.
◗ Boss of All Bosses, who has won three of his last four turf races, will attempt to turn the tables on Allnight Moonlight in the Turf.
◗ Synthetic, who is unbeaten on dirt, seeks to improve her career record to 6 for 7 in the Mademoiselle.
◗ Triple Crown nominee Creole Chrome returns to the Louisiana-bred ranks for the Cheval after a spring season in which he ran fourth in the Blue Grass.
◗ Midnight Passion, who is 4 for 5, moves back to two turns for the Soiree.
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