Mocito Rojo hitting his peak for Wilson

Mocito Rojo ran the race of his life Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, getting the jump on 2-5 favorite Dazzling Gem in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile and scoring a 1 3/4-length victory. Mocito Rojo was 10-1 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“He ran a big one,” said trainer Shane Wilson.

Mocito Rojo won his first stakes in the Evangeline Mile. Earlier in the meet, he captured an optional $30,000 claiming race at the same distance in a sharp 1:37.53. His final time Saturday was 1:37.69.

“He really likes the racetrack at Evangeline,” Wilson said. “He’s run four times on the main track, and he’s won all four times – going 6 1/2, seven, and these two times going a mile. This really was the goal we had for him.”

Wilson said that based on the probable starters, he liked Mocito Rojo’s chances in the Evangeline Mile.

“It looked like the one to beat was the Brad Cox horse, Dazzling Gem,” said Wilson, who trains Mocito Rojo for Wayne T. Davis. “I felt we had as good a mile dirt horse as anybody on the grounds had. Worst-case scenario, we finish second to the Brad Cox horse.”

Mocito Rojo prepped for the Evangeline Mile in a turf allowance, finishing second by a half-length, and he could return to the grass for his next start. Wilson said the options are the $50,000 John Henry at 1 1/16 miles on turf July 7 at Evangeline and the $60,000 Unbridled at the same distance on turf Sept. 2 at Louisiana Downs.

◗ Louisiana Downs will increase overnight purses beginning Saturday, the track announced. There will be increases of $1,500 or $1,000 per race, depending on the class level.