When the Triple Crown comes to an end and the summer on racetracks all over the country begins, fans and participants in the thoroughbred racing industry begin the 2-year-old harvest after the next set of Kentucky Derby (G1) hope.
A place that was probably not checked in this search Evangeline Downs In Opelousas, La. Here was a obscure son of Carbon On July 25, a 3 1/2 length winner made his debut against Little Fanfare outside the local community. Ten months later, this stallion, Coal fight belongs to the 20 starters in the nation's largest breed.
The story of Kohllacht to work up from a first victory at Evangeline and win victories Delta downs And Remington Park To the Kentucky Derby Trail around Oaklawn Park has taken the hearts and attention of general racing. This success has transformed his coach Lonnie Briley based in Louisiana as well as the owner Robbie Norman and Jockey Juan Vargas into stars.
Lonnie Briley in Churchill Downs
This additional attention is good news for the Louisiana racing and breeding industry, all of which celebrate the success of Team Coal Battle from a distance.
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“We are absolutely back and pull for our local sons,” said coach Benard Chatders, President of the benevolent and protection association of the Louisiana Horsemens. “Everyone knows that they have some stunning riders down here. Sometimes they may not have a chance with the high -ranking horses, but they know how to take care of their racing horses and they love the horses. Here it is, the proof is in pudding.”
Read: coal battle takes up connections on an electrifying way
Chaters, who is classified in the barn next to Briley in the barn and has experienced the large stage, while he raced Holy Heaven in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in 2011, said that coal battle and his connections in the last months of the “speech from the watch stand” were navigated from the state.
“We are very joyful for him. Lonnie is a sniper. People are only pink tickled and hope,” said Chatders. “Although we are very competitive with each other, what would be a better story for the game? He is not a 5,000 dollar horse, but a purchase of 70,000 US dollars that can get there and achieves a real legitimate shot at the large day is a great performance. We are joyful and proud and also want to support you to support you, we are 100% behind you.”
Juan Vargas, who drove the coal rider in his first Kentucky Derby trip, felt this love from his friends and colleagues.
“I get a lot of calls and texts,” said Vargas. “I usually go on the track in the morning to work, and many people wish me the best of luck and good luck for the team.
“Many people talk about him and they are quite excited. They are excited for everyone. Evangeline is a modest route. Everyone works strenuous every day. Now, a horse for Louisiana, people are so joyful for the horse. They let me know how joyful they are. It feels good.”
Lonnie Briley and Juan Vargas before the course of Coal Battle in the Arkansas derby
Jockey Corey Lanerie, a 19-time leading driver Churchill Downsgrew up on the Evangeline deficit. He described the community as close.
“Horses like him do not get around very often in many parts of the country, especially for down there,” said Lanerie. “They do not spend the money that some of the other people like for such horses. It is very sporadic to encounter them.
Thanks to Briley, Lanerie's career as a jockey, which included over 5,000 victories. Lanerie's father worked for Briley when he was the peasant coach for the four-time Eclipse prize-winning owner John Franks.
Lanerie said his father was nervous to put him on horses because he feared that he would be injured. Briley put on Lanerie while his father was not there.
“I was in the gates and my father came,” Lanerie recalled. “He roars (Briley) and says: 'You will kill him.' Then I broke out of the gates and the rest is history.
Corey Lanerie
Briley's positive effects have expanded in the Louisiana Racing community, which makes it easier for you to root your success in Kentucky.
“You are good, everyday, strenuous -working horse horses who are committed to the game, horses and the industry,” said Chatders about Briley, deputy coach Bethany Taylor and the entire team. “You earn it just like everyone else, probably more.”
If Evangeline could be known for the production of future stars, it is usually on the Jockey page. In addition to lanerie, drivers such as Calvin Borel, Eddie Delahoussaye and Kent Desormeaux used the route as essential career screech.
It is not impossible to see a star horse from the route. The great horse of 1981 and 1984 of the year won his first stakehold race at the Aged Evangeline Downs in Carencro, La., In the Lafayette -Futurity from 1977. Wilde again, the winner of the first Breeder 'Cup Classic (G1) in 1984, also won a race at Evangeline at the beginning of his career.
The inspiring story of the diminutive connections that finally drop a good horse in their hands has inspired many in the Louisiana racing track, including chatters. Chatpers said he had several promising 2-year-olds in his barn and encourages his employees to exploit Briley and his team as motivation.
“We can have this horse next year,” says CHACTERS to his workers. “We can be next year. Lonnie is in the barn right next door and it can happen. Just stay tuned, continue to work, press and dream. He has our support, prayers and hopes with him.”
“Everyone likes to see the little guy,” said Lanerie. “For a long time, Lonnie was the little guy, not many horses. To see a man like him a horse like this and the opportunity, I definitely pull him for him and I think everyone else is.”
Coal battle may not be a Louisiana fire that was filled in Kentucky, but Chatters said that he had become essentially and became a Louisiana-Bred family. A victory in the derby would be a victory for the entire state, since his father, the carbon front, was his first season in Louisiana on Red River Farms for a fee of 2,000 US dollars.
“I think that this will be a further foot forward for us here in Louisiana,” said CHACTERS. “The Louisiana Hbpa, we are constantly trying to do all sorts of things to promote everyday, average rider in the state. This would definitely be a focus on development and struggle to stay in the game.
“It will show people that these people can prepare the horse for the large races. All they need is the horse and the opportunity. Perhaps people will find out in the fair one day and spread some of these nice horses.”
