ALLNIGHT MOONLIGHT RALLIES TO WIN THE $60,000 STEMMANS MEMORIAL
ELIO BARRERA BRINGS HOME THE WINNER ON A THREE-WIN NIGHT
OPELOUSAS, LA – Allnight Moonlight rallied in the final yards to capture the $60,000 Don Stemmans Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs Saturday night. The race for Louisiana-bred 4-years-old and upward was contested over the distance of one mile and a sixteenth on a firm turf course.
Calicoco and Tussling Charlie were both away sharply and were hustled to get to the lead in the Stemmans Memorial, with Calicoco gaining the advantage out of the turf chute. As the field raced through the opening furlongs in a spirited pace, Calicoco led by a length over Tussling Charlie, while jockey Elio Barrera and Allnight Moonlight settled in at the back of the pack.
With the early fractions beginning to take the starch out of the early leaders, Mi Solution and Nopenottonight made bids for the lead nearing the quarter pole. Good and Stout was beginning to rally, while Allnight Moonlight commenced a five-wide bid into the stretch. As the field straightened away, Good and Stout made a bid outside of Nopenottonight to gain the lead, but Allnight Moonlight was charging quickest in the center of the track. Allnight Moonlight was able to collar Good and Stout in the final couple of jumps to win by a neck. Nopenottonight was 4-3/4 lengths back in third, with Cosmic Train in fourth. The final time was a hand timed 1:46.10.
Allnight Moonlight is owned by Roger Smith and trained by Sam Breaux. He is a winner for the ninth time from 22 career starts. With the $36,000 winning share of the purse, his career earnings now stand at $440,900.
Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, LLC, Allnight Moonlight is a bay 5-year-old gelding sired by Ransom the Moon. He is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Gingertini.
Allnight Moonlight returns $8.80 for the win ticket, $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show. Good and Stout pays $4 and $3.20, with Nopenottonight paying $9.40.
Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:30pm first post. The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs until August 23.
For more information on Evangeline Downs visit the track’s website at https://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing.
Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.
