Evangeline Downs

HARD KINGS reserved at the back of the field early, started to creep forward after passing the five-furlong pole, was not making much progress at the head of the far turn the found another gear under steady urging at the three-furlong pole, rallied along the rail into the stretch then tipped out to the three path, inhaled the leaders and was up in plenty of time. PRINCE LIAM was always prominent through the early stages, was set down when SUPER TACO opened up on the far turn, but initially did not respond, was kept in a drive through the stretch and also under intermittent urging, and produced a grinding finish to claim the place. SWEET CANDY BOY got caught wide on the first turn then settled near the rear for the first half mile, went three to four wide through the far turn then five wide into the stretch and ran on some to the end, was rapidly gaining on the leaders but ran out of time. SUPER TACO came away well and was pushed to get forward position, gained the lead on the turn then set the pace down the backstretch with a trio in close pursuit, tried to quicken away approaching the half-mile pole and widened through the far turn, started to shorten strides approaching the furlong pole while racing on the wrong lead and was overtaken in the final yards. LA BOUCANE settled three wide with the tracking group up front, chased SUPER TACO into the stretch late on the far turn, loomed then flattened out and could not find the winning kick when needed. B D ENVISIONIST saved ground while reserved near the back, then was kept to task late but was never a threat. STANLEY LITTLE BOY tracked in the front half of the field to the far turn, then had little to offer the the stretch. WHATDIDWEDO broke inward at the start, tracked mid-pack in the early stages then had little left for the stretch run. WAY TOO TOUGH raced three wide throughout, got as close as mid-pack late on the backstretch then steadily retreated.

MADELYN'S HIT bumped both sides then rushed up after the break to take the front end, got some pressure from RUNTOLIVE through the turn, came under a stiff drive from the quarter pole, opened up three lengths in upper stretch, and held sway to the finish. CLASSIC DEAL chased at the head of the tracking group, then kept to task down the lane and outlasted the rest of the field for second. ANSLIE'S GUMDROP settled inside in the middle of the pack, responded when put into a drive from the three-furlong pole, got a rail run through the turn, then angled out to the four path for a clear run in the stretch and finished well to gain third. RUNTOLIVE broke inward and brushed, then pressed MADELYN'S HIT from the start, made a bid for the lead near the quarter pole, was turned away and unable to summon another gear when needed in the stretch while finishing evenly. ASPEN LINK broke out and bumped hard with MADELYN'S HIT at the start with the rider nearly being knocked out of the saddle on the rebound, did a remarkable job to get remounted, but fell far behind, then managed to pass a few in the stretch. THAT'S MY MAMA tracked five-wide down the backstretch, then three wide through the turn but was unable to pose a threat at any point. STOP SHOP N DROP raced mid-pack and three deep, then lacked a rally. REAL DEAL RYAN broke with the pack, then started to fall behind, saved ground but was never a factor. THERE WAS A STEWARDS REVIEW INTO THE START OF THE RACE. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

BAYOU BERTIE tucked in behind the pace through the early running, then tipped out to the two path for the stretch run, dueled with JUMPIN JUDY in upper stretch before gaining the advantage in the final furlong to prevail. JUMPIN JUDY broke well, dueled with CAJUN CATALINA early, put that rival away midway on the turn, only to be tackled by BAYOU BERTIE near the quarter pole, dueled with that foe to mid-stretch before giving way grudingly and holding second well clear of the rest. SASSI STRUTTER was racing close up just behind the pace then attempted to bolt going into the turn, dropped to last then rallied five wide in the stretch to gain third. CLEARLY CREDO was outrun early then started to pick off rivals while saving ground through the turn, tipped out to the three path in the stretch and finished well to improve. GRACIE DIAMOND tracked four wide at the rear of the tracking group, ran on willingly but was outfinished. KAELY'S SISTER allowed to settle then tracked mid-pack, came under a drive late on the turn and finished up well but could not find the winning kick in the late stages. CAJUN CATALINA pushed open the gate before the start, then broke well, dueled with JUMPIN JUDY to the turn, weakened after passing the three-furlong pole, then outkicked in the final furlong. LOVELYREDSTILETTOS veered out sharply at the start then tracked close up to the turn, started to lose ground after passing the three-furlong pole then was unable to keep up in the stretch.

KENMORE WEST showed good speed from the break then took up a stalking position to the outside of MAGNUM, was content with that position despite moderate splits and was hard held to the far turn, was sent forward leaving the three-furlong pole then responded nicely when set down in the stretch but found MAGNUM resurgent, but gained the upper hand in the final yards. MANGUM was sent hard from the start, gained the early advantage on the first turn, was pressed by KENMORE WEST down the backstretch, held sway through the far turn then came under many threats at the quarter pole, responded when set down at the top of the stretch, dueled gamely with that rival down the stretch and came up short while well clear of the next horse. TONTERIA kept to the inside while racing at the back of the compact field, bided time through the far turn, lacked room until mid-stretch, then surged through an opening late and rallied to gain the third spot. NOPENOTTONIGHT checked off heels repeatedly through the first turn, then raced close up between horses down the backstretch and into the turn, became boxed in on the far turn, found room in upper stretch, and quickened but was unable to threaten the top pair and was passed late for third. UP N GONE unhurried and last early, launched a four-wide bid from the seven-sixteenths marker, finished up weill under strong handling and urging but was outfinished. INCHHIGHATAHUNDRED allowed to settle, was held up in mid-pack through the first turn, angled over to the rail heading down the backstretch and was pulling hard with nowhere to run from the half through the far turn, waited for room late on the turn then finally got free in upper stretch ut was outkicked and unable to threaten. HIGHLAND CREEK raced in the middle of the pack always close, but was outkicked late. THE 3/4 AND 7/8 FRACTIONS WERE UNAVAILABLE DUE TO A TIMING MALFUNCTION OR DISCREPANCY.

SASSI SKY was off a beat slow then rushed up to take a share of the early lead, dueled with SACRED VOW into the turn, responded when set down leaving the three-furlong pole, went a length clear and held that margin into the stretch, widened under steady handling and easily held safe from late bid to prevail. JENNY'S DAY broke well and was close up early, lost ground going into the turn, then swung three wide into the stretch and finished up well under steady handling and intermittent urging to get up for second. BOBBY'S GIRL broke sharply from the outside, then conceded the lead while moving towards the inside, ranged up on the leaders from the five-sixteenths marker, had some trouble changing leads, and flattened out. SACRED VOW broke through the gate just before the start, hopped in the air, then rushed up to join SASSI SKY on the lead, pressed the pace from the inside then was unable to go on with that foe from the five-sixteenths marker and weakened in the stretch. LUCKY JUAN chased in the middle of the pack, made a mild bid late on the turn but flattened out in the stretch while drifting in under left landed urging. LUNDIGRASMAMBO was slow to begin, advanced three wide down the backstretch to regain contact with the field going into the turn then tired in the stretch. PENNIES FOR PAULLA was outrun early, dropped to the back of the field and was never a threat. ROSE HILL ROCKET was held by the assistant starter at the break, released well after the field had been dispatched, and was distanced. THERE WAS A STEWARDS INQUIRY INTO THE START. AFTER A REVIEW #5 SACRED VOW WAS DECLARED A NON-STARTER FOR BREAKING THE GATE EARLY. ALSO, #6 ROSE HILL ROCKET WAS HELD BY THE ASSISTANT STARTER AS THE GATES OPENED AND NOT GIVEN A FAIR START, WAS ALSO DECLARED A NON-STARTER.