Jeansonne has big week with babies

Evangeline Downs-based trainer Justin Jeansonne is coming off a week to remember. He won the $75,000 La Senorita at Retama Park on his late father’s birthday, Aug. 14, and two days later celebrated the birth of daughter Jetta Joy with his wife, Jade.

“It’s been a fantastic week – an overwhelming and happy week,” said Jeansonne, 36.

Tizsfranderella remained undefeated in two starts in the La Senorita for 2-year-old fillies on turf. For her two-turn debut she earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 62.

“She ran real big,” said Jeansonne, who also owns Tizsfranderella. “She’s back at Evangeline. We’ll nominated her to the Happy Ticket at Louisiana Downs, but we’ll make sure she works good before we decide to run or not.”

The Happy Ticket for 2-year-old fillies on turf is Sept. 7.

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga/Del Mar One-Stop Shop

Jeansonne won a 2-year-old stakes at Louisiana Downs earlier this month with First U Make Aroux in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies. She also is undefeated in two starts, having won her debut in July at Evangeline.

“She’s not a real big filly,” Jeansonne said. “We’ll give her a little breather, get her ready for Delta Downs.”

Jeansonne said First U Make Aroux would be pointed to the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel on Oct. 18 at Delta Downs.

Jeansonne had an additional 2-year-old winner the same day as the La Senorita, when Uncle Ugly won his maiden at Louisiana Downs. It’s been a strong year for juveniles for the barn, which has seen its number of young horses rise from six last year to 17, Jeansonne said.

The barn will attempt to add to its 2-year-old win totals in Thursday night’s opener at Evangeline, with Mom Said Yes. He goes in a maiden special weight at five furlongs on turf after running third in a main-track maiden race.

“He’s bred for the grass,” Jeansonne said. “I’m looking for big improvement.”

Jeansonne will have horses at both Delta and Fair Grounds following the close of Evangeline on Aug. 29.

Trainer Young dead at 58

Troy Young, a longtime trainer based in Louisiana, died Friday at the age of 58, according to friend and fellow trainer Joe Duhon.

Duhon said Young left training in 2012 to run his family’s business and farm in Opelousas, La. Young won his first race as a trainer in 1984 at Delta and overall won 865 races from 5,063 starts for stable earnings of $15.7 million, according to Daily Racing Form.

Young won 58 stakes, among them the Grade 3 Ark-La-Tex Handicap in 1998 at Louisiana Downs with Dickey Rickey. Other popular stakes winners for the barn included Leslie’s Love, Flashy Wise Cat, and Sweet Macaroni.

“Troy was a real good horseman and a well-respected family man,” Duhon said. “He will be greatly missed.”

◗ Silver Moon Rising, who last year was stakes-placed at Retama, is back at the track for Wednesday night’s eighth race, a first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares bred in Texas.

◗ The stakes winners Gunners One and Citizen Geller go in separate allowances Wednesday night at the Downs at Albuquerque.

◗ The deadline to sign up for the Super Derby Festival 40 Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the Backside Benevolence Fund at Louisiana Downs is Thursday. The tournament is Aug. 29.