Ova Charged continues stakes-winning streak with Mademoiselle

Ova Charged, who owns the year’s highest Beyer Speed Figure, won her sixth consecutive stakes race Saturday night when she held for a length win in the $100,000 Mademoiselle on the $600,000 Louisiana Legends Night card at Evangeline Downs.

Luyva finished second, a neck in front of third-place finisher Noneya.

The Mademoiselle was one of six divisional stakes on the card, with each restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. During the program, Evangeline honored Pelican State racing legends Calvin Borel, Mark Guidry, Larry Robideaux Jr., Joseph Broussard, Eddie Johnston and Charles Ashy Sr.

Ova Charged ($2.20), who in March at Fair Grounds earned a year-high Beyer of 113 for a win on turf, has racked up the stakes wins in her last six starts. She vied for the lead three-wide on Saturday, taking over after an opening quarter in 21.75 seconds.

Ova Charged began to separate herself from her rivals on the turn and continued to be in command of the race through a half-mile in 45.14 seconds. Ova Charged fended off closing rivals late, and covered 5 1/2 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:04.44.

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“She’s amazing,” winning rider Jose Guerrero said in a post-race interview conducted by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “All I have to do is follow her all the way to the winner’s circle. She basically does everything for me.”

Shane Wilson trains Ova Charged for her breeder, Brittlyn Stable. Ova Charged is a daughter of Star Guitar who has now won 14 of 17 starts for earnings of $849,200.

Last week, Wilson said if Ova Charged ran well and emerged from the race in good order, there were stakes she would be considered for at Ellis Park and Lone Star Park.

Ova Charged came into the Mademoiselle off a win in the Grade 3 Unbridled Sydney over five furlongs on turf on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Ova Charged began her streak Dec. 9 at Fair Grounds, with a win in the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint on dirt at Fair Grounds. She then captured three more stakes at the track before traveling to Kentucky.

Ova Charged won the 11th stakes race of her career Saturday, in what was her first start at Evangeline. For the effort, she earned a Beyer of 81.

The start of the card was delayed due to inclement weather, which has gripped the region the last week. Earlier in the day, a rainstorm delayed the start of the card at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

Notable win for Rosier

Tdzshininluckystar ($56.60) captured the $100,000 Cheval for 3-year-olds by two lengths to give jockey Chris Rosier his first stakes win since making his comeback last season. Rosier was greeted in the winner’s circle by Calvin Borel, the Hall of Fame rider who was honored after the race.

Tdzshininluckystar settled off the pace, launched a strong bid on the final turn, and went on to cover the mile in 1:39.33. Kent Knudsen trains the son of Star Guitar for his owner and breeder, Tony Doughtie.

***For Harper ($13.20) closed from last for a 1 1/4-length win over Norah G in the $100,000 Turf Distaff that was moved to a sloppy, sealed main track. The winner covered the mile in 1:39.95. Joel Dominguez was aboard the daughter of Accelerate for Valene Farms and trainer Sturges Ducoing.

*** Lightofmaine ($12) wired her rivals for a length win over Tommie G in the $100,000 Soiree. She covered the mile for 3-year-old fillies in 1:40.38. C.J. McMahon was aboard the daughter of Tapwrit for trainer Bret Calhoun. Lightofmaine races for Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington.

*** Calhoun and McMahon won another stakes on the night when Who Took the Money ($9.40) closed from last for a nose win over Cosmic Train in the $100,000 Turf run on a sloppy, sealed main track. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.94. Who Took the Money is a son of Street Boss owned by Allied Racing Stable.

*** Not On Herb ($6.20) was always prominent for a 2 3/4-length win in the $100,000 Sprint. He covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.54. Juan Vargas was aboard the son of First Samurai for Crusaders Stable and trainer David Terre.

*** Jockey Timothy Thornton was thrown in the fourth race and took off his mounts for the remainder of the card. He is believed to have escaped serious injuries, according to an official with Evangeline.

*** Handle on the 10-race card from all sources was more than $1.9 million, according to the official charts from the meet’s richest card.

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