THE HORSES AT EVERGREEN PARK 2020 AWARD WINNERS

Grande Prairie’s Nellie Pigeau was the busiest trainer at The Horses At Evergreen Park at JDA Raceway this summer.

She was also the winningest.

Fifty-one times Pigeau watched horses she trains leave the gates and 13 times they won; 12 times they finished second; and 10 times they ended up third. That means 69% of the time they were a win, place or show and 25% of her starts were victories.

Her first victory was the fourth race of the season on opening day July 11, with I’m Outta Here, and her last win was on the last race of the season on August 23 with Parker’s Prince.

She ended up pocketing $56,878 for her owners en route to the Top Trainer award.

Garry Marks was second overall with seven wins, six seconds and eight thirds after 42 races while William Leech was third with seven wins, two seconds and three thirds after just 18 tries.

Marks won $31,802 in purse money and Leech a whopping $116,259.
Most of Leech’s total came from quarter horses he trains for Chuck Stojan including world record holder Free Thought (18 wins in a row) as well as Bank of America Regional Champions Stripsteak, Flight Club and Light Footed.

While Pigeau had the most wins, it was trainer Codi Blattler who had the best winning percentage at 43% with six wins after 14 starts.

STEWART TOP JOCKEY

Pigeau’s go-to rider was Blandford Stewart – the meet’s top jockey.
Stewart was in the saddle for 85 races over the 14-day season at JDA Raceway winning 23 times, finishing second 26 times and third 14 times. He had a 74% win-place-show record and won 27% of the races he rode in.
He earned $107,000 for his owners.

Trevor Simpson (52-16-9-11) with $60,684 was second and Juan Apango (52-10-12-10) and $44,325 was third in the jockey standings.

The Pigeau-Stewart collaboration were involved with the leading horse at The Horses At Evergreen Park this year.

A steed named Master’s Bluff, trained by Pigeau and ridden by Stewart all four times, won three and finished second once and earned $7,955 in purse money. Master’s Bluff is a 10-year-old born in Washington.

Local owner Jack Bolin’s horse Let The Boy Sing also had three wins after four tries, but grabbed a third to go with that as opposed to the second by Master’s Bluff. Bolin was no doubt singing the horse’s praises because it won him $8,688 in purse money. Let The Boy Sing is a seven-year-old born in Colorado. The trainer is Fallon Lindstrom.

Desposito raced three times and had three wins for a 100% victory percentage, but ended up third in the standings with $6,307 won. The horse, just three and born in Alberta, is owned by Pete Knight and trained by Colton Mead.

The majority of the owners, trainers and horses will move on to Lethbridge and compete at Rocky Mountain Turf Club for September and October. Some of the horses will also appear at Century Mile in Edmonton, including Free Thought.

Racing fans who want to get their bet on between September and the opening of The Horses At Evergreen Park in July of 2021, can do so at the Evergreen Park Casino, which is open 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. There is a bank of screens at the facility that show races from across North America. Programs for all races on the screens are available and there are two betting kiosks to place bets.

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