Hot Tempo gets first stakes win in Matron

OPELOUSAS, La. – Hot Tempo made an eye-opening move on the final turn before wearing down a stubborn All Woman to capture Friday night’s $60,000 Matron Stakes at Evangeline Downs. All Woman lost by a neck after setting all the pace in the one-mile test for fillies and mares on turf and reported home 1 1/4 lengths in front of Little Ms Protocol in third.

It was the first stakes win for Hot Tempo ($5.80), trained by Frank Leggio. Gerard Melancon was the winning rider and won three other races on the 10-race program. The winning time was a quick 1:34.73 over a firm course.

“We got a little more pace than we anticipated,” Melancon said. “I began to make my move around the three-furlong pole, and I had a lot of horse in the second turn.”

“She earned this shot,” Leggio added. “We’ve gotten some good races out of her on the grass, and when she started rolling tonight, we were pretty confident.”