This Wagons Okay, Executive Trust Score In Evangeline Undercard Stakes

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 17, 2016—This Wagons Okay and Executive Trust were winners in two $25,000 undercard stakes Saturday night, closing night for the 2016 American Quarter Horse meet at Evangeline Downs.

Sam's Town Stakes

Under a confident ride by jockey Antonio Alberto, This Wagons Okay held off Specials Jess by a head in the $25,000 Sam's Town Stakes Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. A Royal Country Man finished 1¾ lengths back to take third.

Saddled by trainer Javier Contreras, This Wagons Okay completed the 350 yards in :17.484 seconds, a 99-speed index into a 12-mph headwind. It was the 10th win in 22 starts for the multiple stakes winning son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon. The 5-year-old pocketed $12,000 for the win to boost his career mark to $173,930.

The gelding races for owner Rene Amaro and was bred in Oklahoma by Michael Pohl from the Okey Dokey Dale mare This Candys Okay.

Also a stakes winner, runner-up Specials Jess races for owner Hugo Morales and trainer Adrian Huitron. Damian Martinez rode the Spit Curl Jess gelding out of Special Anywhere by Make It Anywhere. The 4-year-old earned $4,000 for the effort.

J. Santos Espinoza's A Royal Country Man was no match for the top-two finishers. Noe Castaneda had the riding call for trainer Jose Espinoza. Bred in California by Abigail Kawananakoa, the Country Chicks Man 5-year-old is out of A Royal Goddess by Strawfly Special He earned $2,200.

Louisiana Legends, Kw Cowboy, The Golden Bowl, Soraya Seis, Going Viral and Ojo de Rey completed the field.

IP 870 Stakes

Reigning 2015 AQHA Racing Distance Champion Executive Trust wore down early leader Eyesa Shoofly Dandy then rolled to a 1¼ length win in the $25,000 IP 870 Stakes Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. Jessa Little Rusty finished two lengths back in third.

Ruby Gonzalez rode Executive Trust over the 870-yard course in :46.944 seconds into a 15-mph headwind. Guadalupe Munoz, Jr. trains the 5-year-old son of Executive Menace for owner Sherree Meridyth.

Bred in Texas by Scarlett Hill Farm, Inc., Executive Trust has compiled a (25) 11-4-1 record and earned $275,138.

Also, a multiple stakes winner Eyesa Shoofly Dandy earned $4,000 for his second-place effort. Trey Ellis trains the son of Gold Medal Jess for owners Steve Holt and Curtis Smith. Wesley Ann Anglin bred the 5-year-old in Oklahoma from the Willie Wicked mare Miss Sound Viking.

John Stinebaugh trains third place finisher Jess Little Rusty for Louis Howard. Gilbert Ortiz rode the Mr Jess Perry gelding out of Rustys Ouickid by Royal Quick Dash. Clyde Wilmontt bred the multiple graded stakes winner of $198,522 in Texas.

Streak Of Music, Im Mighty Fast, Bet I Make U Famous, Dark Bark and Game Own completed the field.