Racing


Cobalt Creek Clear Winner in Evangeline Downs 550 Stakes
Cobalt Creek, under jockey Gilbert Ortiz, wins the $30,000 Evangeline Downs 550 Stakes on Saturday.

© Coady Photography
Cobalt Creek Clear Winner in Evangeline Downs 550 Stakes

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 15, 2018—Cobalt Creek, the logical favorite in the $30,000 Evangeline Downs 550 Stakes, was an impressive winner in the distance stakes on Saturday night. The 6-year-old gelding went gate to wire in the 550-yard race, stopping the clock in :26.929 to earn a speed index of 108.

Gilbert Ortiz, who often rides the gelding, was aboard for Saturday’s stakes win. Cobalt Creek ($4.80) is trained by John Steinbaugh for owners Vwp Jr.,Inc.

Cobalt Creek was bred in Missouri by Jim Streelman and Bill Dale, sired by Walk Thru Fire and out of Checknbac, by Check Him Out.

Trainer John Stinebaugh (right) and the winning connections of Cobalt Creek accept the EVD 550 Stakes trophy.
© Coady Photography

The stakes win was the third win of 2018 for the gelding and the tenth of his career. He has finished 22 of his 35 starts in the money and has lifetime earnings of $338,899. A veteran of multiple stakes races with many graded appearances in his past performances, Cobalt Creek counts a win in the 2017 Refrigerator Handicap (G1) among his accomplishments.

Cobalt Creek was ahead by nearly a length at the end of the race; each of the next five finishers were separated by only a head. In second place was Sunset Run and Jorge Linares for trainer Miguel Rodriguez and owner Jose Alfonso Ramos.

Sunset Run, a 3-year-old gelding, had won his last two starts and was attempting the 550-yard distance for the first time. Like the winner, he was also bred in Missouri by Jim Streelman and Bill Dale but is a son of FDD Dynasty and is out of Summer Love Song, by FDD Dynasty.

Sunset Run is five for 11 lifetime and has never finished off the board in five career starts at Evangeline.

Closing behind Sunset Run was Black Onyx in third place. Black Onyx was ridden by Damian Martinez for trainer Rosendo Valdez, Jr. and owner Darrell Hooper.

Black Onyx is a 3-year-old gelding by Rock Solid Jess, out of Precious Serendipity by Behold a Beduino. He was bred in Texas by Sarah Huskey.

Black Onyx is four for 12 lifetime, with only one previous start at Evangeline and never longer than 440 yards. He qualified for the Juvenile Challenge (G3) at Sam Houston as a 2-year-old in 2017.

Completing the field were Painted Clouds, Sixes Flash, Jes a Spitfire, No Politics Here, Saginaw Creek and Lennys Cashandchrome. Mr Desert Streak was scratched.