Mocito Rojo shooting for repeat win in Evangeline Mile

Mocito Rojo and jockey Filemon Rodriguez have been one of the most successful teams in Louisiana racing over the past three years. The horse and rider have combined for 13 wins since first being paired together in May 2017 and on Saturday night will defend their title in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La.

The Evangeline Mile, which is for 3-year-olds and up, is the premier race of the meet and it drew field of six that includes invaders Pioneer Spirit and Title Ready. The race will go as the eighth on a nine-race program that starts at 5:50 p.m. Central.

Mocito Rojo is based at Evangeline, and he will be making his first start of the meet Saturday. He enters the Evangeline Mile off a two-length win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile on April 28 at Lone Star Park. The race was the richest victory for Mocito Rojo and Rodriguez, as well as the horse’s trainer, Shane Wilson.

“That was a big day,” said Wilson.

Mocito Rojo races for Wayne T. Davis, who claimed the horse for $10,000 out of his career debut in December 2016 at Delta Downs. He won that night, then in his first start for his new connections – and first under Rodriguez – he captured a $10,000 conditioned claiming sprint May 5, 2017, at Evangeline. From there, the horse knocked out a handful of allowance wins before capturing his first stakes in last year’s Evangeline Mile. Mocito Rojo has since won three more stakes, and for his Steve Sexton Mile equaled his best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 95.

Wilson said Rodriguez has played a key role in the development of Mocito Rojo, who is now 5.

“Filemon is a big part of this horse,” Wilson said. “He gets on him every day. He gallops him. He breezes him. He does everything on him. They’re a pretty good team. Filemon knows him. He knows Filemon. I think that really means a lot.”

Wilson said Mocito Rojo is a good-feeling, playful horse who enjoys his mornings with Rodriguez.

“He’ll start bucking and Filemon starts laughing,” Wilson said. “Filemon loves it.”

Rodriguez is 13 for 19 on Mocito Rojo, who has a record of 14 wins from 22 starts for earnings of $484,750. Rodriguez has won 877 Thoroughbred races in North America since his first win in 1991, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. His 10,339 mounts have earned more than $13 million.

In the Evangeline Mile, Mocito Rojo and Rodriguez will start from post 5. The complete field from the rail with riders is Pioneer Spirit, Colby Hernandez; Mageez, Roberto Morales; Zipzaptime, Chris Rosier; Title Ready, Diego Saenz; Mocito Rojo; and Late Nite Mischief, Timothy Thornton.

◗ Inspector Eddie returns to the overnight ranks for Thursday night’s eighth race at Evangeline, a conditioned allowance sprint for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana. He comes off a third-place finish in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Cheval on May 25 at Evangeline. Colby Hernandez has the mount for Cash Is King and trainer Eddie Johnston.

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