Evangeline Downs

MAX COLLECTOR broke sharply and went to the front, led the field by about a length through the turn, then responded to handling and urging in the stretch and won well clear. ATLANTIC STORM was hard to load, ducked out at the start, then overcorrected to the inside, steadied, then gradually advanced to be up with the pacesetters on the turn, continued to gain through the turn, and finished up well to gain second while no threat to the winner. THAT'S APRIORITY got bumped from the inside at the break then was forced inward by the chain reaction from the outer posts, became rank and pressed MAX COLLECTOR through the turn and into the stretch, could not match strides with that one in the stretch but kept trying and managed to hold third. ABOUT THE BUSINESS chased three wide, steadied and lost some ground late on the turn, then game back and finished willingly but could not make up the lost ground. LEOBOBANNA got bumped and carried inward about three paths by ABOUT THE BUSINESS, then was outrun through the early stages, saved ground through the turn, and finished evenly. EMBRACE MY HEART veered out at the start, was slow into stride, and never threatened. SWAMP POP prompted the pace four wide to the turn, then struggled to keep up and was outrun in the stretch. HIT SQUAD broke well, then was bothered by THAT'S APRIORITY coming over from the inside then took up when a pair of rivals took the path from the outside, raced near the back of the field and was unable to mount a rally. ANACREON broke well, then ducked into and through the temporary rail about a hundred yards into the race, dropped the rider then chased the field on the infield along the inside of the rail, rejoined the pack at the turf chute then was eventually caught by the outrider and walked off.

SOLAR BURST was sent from the break and gained the early advantage, had GOLD PLUS a constant shadow then pulled clear of the rest on the turn, repelled a bid from that rival at the top of the stretch then held sway through the stretch to prevail in a gutsy effort. GOLD PLUS broke outward at the start but avoided contact, pressed SOLAR BURST from the start, made a push for the lead at the quarter pole but was repelled, continued to try hard to get to that foe through the stretch but could not get by. RED WHISTLE lagged at the back to the stretch then produced a strong rally, was gaining rapidly on the winner but ran out of time. DAY FOR THE GRAY bobbled slightly at the start, was close up early, then unable to quicken with the top two late on the turn, had some trouble changing leads in upper stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. SELECTIVELY SWEET hustled away but unable to contest the early pace, was kept in a drive through the turn, then bid four wide into the stretch and managed to split the field. CAIRO CHARM allowed to settle, advanced into and through the turn, lacked room approaching the quarter pole, then lacked a rally when clear. QUITE THE CATCH chased three wide and spent in upper stretch. GAP DADDY was outrun through the early stages, raced three to four wide and lacked a late bid. FLYING I chased mid-pack four wide, then had little to offer late. SCAMPERING MA'AM tracked three wide through the early running, then came under a drive at the quarter pole and faded.

APRIORITY ROCKET settled four wide with the tracking group, then launched a bid from the three furlong pole, rallied under strong handling and urging and was up in time. BABY'S LAST DANCE pressed the pace three wide early, then pulled away from the rest with FLASHIN CHIP, finished willingly but could not hold off the outside challenge from the winner. FLASHIN CHIP hustled forward from the start, gained the lead by the half then pulled away with BABY'S LAST DANCE through the turn, finished willingly but was outkicked in the final yards. GATSBY'S FORTUNE broke well, showed brief speed, then backed off the pace and finished evenly. CATALINA DAY was bothered by rivals on both sides at the start, was slow to get going, then rushed up to chase the leading pair on the turn, had some trouble changing leads in the stretch, and was outfinished. ALINES VALENTINE was away awkwardly then bumped at the start, was outrun through the early stages and last into the turn, tried to rally three wide in the stretch but did not make an impact. JOSEPH H broke well, raced close up on the inside, steadied slightly just past the seven-sixteenths marker then steadied again at the quarter pole, lost momentum and was unable to recover.

FORTUITY tracked in the middle of the pack to the half, advanced then bided time through the turn, produced a strong rally once clear in upper stretch, gradually chased a stubborn DON'TASK DON'TTELL determinedly, and got up in the last jump. DON'TASK DON'TTELL settled in a tracking position behind the dueling leaders, launched a bid from the three-furlong pole, swept to the lead at the top of the stretch, opened up, finished well but was caught in the final jump. WAYSIDE DRIVE was away well, tracked close up to the stretch, was always prominent but lacked the winning kick in the stretch. ALL WEST trailed behind the main pack, then rallied past a few tiring rivals in the stretch. MAZING MARK lacked speed and settled near the back, saved ground, and loomed a threat on the far turn but failed to change leads, and went flat in the stretch. MI SOLUTION got shuffled a bit at the start, then pressed forward to duel with FRENCH COMPOSER through the early stages, gave way just past the half-mile pole, then tried to re-rally in the stretch but faltered. FRENCH COMPOSER hustled to the front, dueled with MI SOLUTION to the half then WAYSIDE DRIVE through the turn gave way late on the turn and tired in the stretch.

HINT OF PLATINUM broke a step slow then sprinted to take the lead by the half-mile pole, opened up on the turn, and went clear under a mild hand ride in a sparkling debut. GO GET TRAE hustled to the front and took the early lead, was overtaken by HINT OF PLATINUM at the half, then continued to chase that rival through the turn, proved no match for that one in the stretch but kept on well to be well clear of the next finisher. REAUX BAN DA MAN was off slowly, then took up when STRAY LIGHTNING veered into the path at the start, gathered up, then started a steady advance on the field through the turn, bid six wide into the stretch and continued to run on to grab the third prize. STRAY LIGHTNING chased three wide to the stretch, failed to change leads, faltered, and lost a chance to finish third. EXAGGERIFIC ducked in and slammed into IN THE GRAY at the start, tracked mid-pack inside while under a drive from the start, was at the head of the tracking group turning for home but was unable to summon a finishing kick. BENNIE BEE hustled from the break but was unable to join the early pace battle, lost ground to the leaders on the turn then finished one-paced the rest of the way. IN THE GRAY got bumped hard by EXAGGERIFIC at the start, took up sharply and was not involved early, was kept to task and passed a few in the late stages. ONGOING CHALLENGE broke in and broadsided LIFE'S RIDE, was outpaced early, went into a four-wide drive before the three-furlong pole and went flat in the stretch. LIFE'S RIDE bumped hard by ONGOING CHALLENGE at the start, was unable to keep up with the early pace, and had little to offer in the stretch. VON ERICH refused to break, walked off.

ASTROLOGYSPROTEGE broke sharply and went to the front, soon joined by LOST MY BAG, got the measure of that one late on the turn, opened up when set down in upper stretch, and easily held off a late bid. WISE ANCHOR bumped at the start then raced close up behind the dueling leaders, made a forward push from the five-sixteenths marker, finished up well under steady handling and urging, and just held the place from an outside threat. JULIA'S WARRIOR raced at the rear of the field but not too far off the pace, rallied four wide into the stretch and finished up well under steady urging. CLAY'S BLACK OPAL chased three deep under a steady ride, finished evenly but was unable to threaten. CRIME SPREE bumped with WISE ANCHOR after the break, raced at the inside of the tracking group and lacked a finishing kick. LOST MY BAG dueled with ASTROLOGYSPROTEGE and gave way near the quarter pole. WILD BERT got away in good order but struggled to keep pace, dropped to last place on the turn and was unable to improve in the stretch.

LASER CLAD tracked the pacesetters while under a snug hold, was sent after CAPTIVATING STAR from the three-furlong pole, engaged that rival in a spirited stretch duel, gained the advantage in the final yards, held off a final surge from the rival near the wire and prevailed. CAPTIVATING STAR made the front end on the first turn, dictated moderate fractions, quickened midway on the far turn under a threat from LASER CLAD, battled that one gamely to the finish but came up short in the end. MAGNOLIA WEST was unhurried two wide at the back of the field, circled the field three wide on the far turn, and finished up well. TURF MONSTER ducked in at the start, then was allowed to settle at the rear along the rail through the early stages, came three wide into the stretch and was running on late despite lugging in. DOOLGAROUX tracked mid-pack three wide and finished evenly. IT'S A SECRET saved ground near the rear and made a brief, belated rally in the stretch. POPPA MAGIC stalked CAPTIVATING STAR to the far turn then weakened in the stretch.

COUNTRY BELLE reserved from the break, settled well behind by design, responded when asked to go forward from the three-furlong pole, came four wide into the stretch, and produced a strong rally to get up in the last jump. VIV'S WILD ACES tracked close up to the turn, made a bid for the lead at the five-sixteenths marker, had a little trouble with the lead change from the top of the stretch but surged clear when straightened out, only to be run down by the winner. UNO PEA tracked in mid-pack, launched a grinding rally with three furlongs to run, was slowly gaining on the leader but could not find the needed late kick. DEAL WITH IT broke well then pressed MIKA ELLA PIKA to the turn, weakened leaving the three-furlong pole and was not a factor in the stretch run. POT'S PAYCHECK off slowly, advanced down the backstretch to be up with the leaders heading into the turn, rallied four wide through the turn, then flattened out in the stretch. MIKA ELLA PIKA was pushed to the front from the break, dueled with DEAL WITH IT down the backstretch then VIV'S WILD ACES through the turn, dug in under pressure from the quarter but was shortening strides by mid-stretch. ZIPPING MOLLY broke well, vied four wide early, then backed off the pace to a tracking position, started to lose ground passing the three-furlong pole and lacked a late bid. BAYTOWN BOUJEE raced at the back of the compact field then came up empty in the stretch.

HE'S CHARLIE broke sharply and was sent to the front, got some pressure from ROLL ON LUKE through the turn, then dug in under a serious threat from THEBOYZ WARNING near the quarter pole, dueled, then edged clear in the final sixteenths in a game effort. STAR APRIORITY away well, tracked four wide down the backstretch, came under a ride from the seven-sixteenths marker, was within striking distance passing the quarter pole, then surged late under urging to just miss. THEBOYZ WARNING broke inward at the start and bumped hard into ROLL ON LUKE, chased the two pacesetters to the turn, found a good stride passing the three-furlong pole and bid for the lead from the quarter pole, battled gamely with HE'S CHARLIE through the stretch, weakened late, and was passed for second in the final yards. MIDNIGHT STREAK was off a step slow, then took up when a rival crossed the path, went three wide on the turn and into the stretch and improved. ONE GRAND SLAM was bothered at the start and a little slow to get going, was under a drive from the three-furlong pole, lugged in and had trouble keeping a straight course in the stretch. SAILOR SLEW raced near the back of the field, saved ground, then went one-paced late and was never a threat. BIG ROUX veered in at the start then was void of speed, always behind and passed one in the stretch. ROLL ON LUKE was bumped hard by THEBOYZ WARNING and propelled into MIDNIGHT STREAK, pressed the early pace to the turn, then gave way before the stretch and tired.