Heitai wins the $60,000 Need for Speed Stakes at EvD

Opelousas -Heitai ($2.60) coming off a disappointing last-place finish in the Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap last month at Oaklawn Park, bounced back with a popular victory in the $60,000 Need for Speed Stakes at Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel on Saturday evening. Sent right to the lead under his regular jockey Diego Saenz, the Louisiana bred four-year-old gelding by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus displayed his extreme high speed while running the opening quarter-mile in 21.03, and 43.84 for the half-mile, en route to covering the five furlongs on the firm grass course in 55.74 seconds, just .74 off the course record set back in the summer of 2009.

The victory was also a career milestone for Heitai’s trainer, Karl Broberg, as the 43yr old Arlington, TX native recorded his 1,000th victory since taking out his trainer’s license in the fall of 2009.

Solar Charge rallied strongly in the stretch to earn the runner-up spot, a length behind the winner and 2 ½ lengths in front of the third-place finisher Unitas. Sir Trent was next across the finish line in 4th, followed by Wino, Chifforobe, and Brilliant Interest.

The win, Heitai’s fourth from five starts this year was worth $36,000 and pushed his seasonal earnings past the $200,000 mark. Overall, the Barbara & Frank Rowell homebred has amassed earnings of $439,943.
The 2014 Spring/Summer Thoroughbred racing season features a four-evening-a-week schedule, Wednesday’s thru Saturday’s with a first post of 5:40 P.M. Central Time.

For additional information contact Evangeline Downs at (337) 594-3000 or 594-3149.