Evangeline Downs

GIOTTO broke sharply to be first to the front, picked up a challenge from PERFECT TEMPO near the three-furlong pole, dueled into the stretch, shook off that rival before the furlong marker, and drew off in the late stages in a solid debut. PERFECT TEMPO hustled away, vied three-wide in the early pace mix, went on to duel with GIOTTO through the turn, then could not match that rival in the final furlong but held clear to save second. ONE FANCY LADY tracked mid-pack on the inside, was having to be ridden along to keep up with the pace, got an inside run through the turn and stayed on well to gain the minor award. MY OTHER HALF broke a little awkwardly but raced close up just off the leading trio, then flattened out in the stretch. PREACH IT SISTER raced with the pack for a furlong, then retreated while under a ride, then found best stride in the stretch and made a belated rally to improve position. MISS LANDLOCK raced four-wide off the pace, then flattened out in the stretch. DATAHALLDOLL was off a step slow, then had no early speed from the start and dropped far back early, ran on some in the stretch and passed a couple of tired rivals. RUN NORMA RUN raced three-wide in the second group, lost a lot of ground to the rest of the field on the turn, and had little to offer in the late stages. ROSALIE pressed the pace between horses, then weakened leaving the three-furlong pole, and slowed to a walk in the stretch.

SHINING AWAY broke well and disputed the early pace two-deep among several rivals, went ahead through the turn with only WENDY'S MYLA still prompting the pace to the outside, responded when roused at the quarter pole, and went clear of the rest and unchallenged to the wire. STORM SURGE broke sharply, then veered out at the start, was four-wide in the early pace scramble, dropped off the pace on the turn, came three-wide, and was under strong handling in the stretch and outlasted the rest for second. CINCY'S PLAYER tucked in behind the battling leaders, then lost some ground on the turn, was kept to task late, and came back to claim the third prize. WENDY'S MYLA was three-wide in the early pace mix, went on with SHINING AWAY late on the turn, was under a drive to keep pace wth that one midway through the turn, then went one-paced in the stretch. SURPRISE ANGEL was outrun from the break and chased the field down the chute, saved ground the rest of the way, but lacked a finish. SECURITY QUEEN tracked well off the early pace, came four-wide into the stretch but could generate a late bid. PRONE TO GREATNESS got away awkwardly, but was able to vie inside for the early lead, backed off at the half, then was under pressure to keep pace through the turn, then had little to give in the stretch run. STYLE MAKER was reluctant to load, then devoid of any early speed at the break, raced well behind the rest and was never involved.

METAIRIE settled at the back of the field for the first half, circled the field on the rar turn to vie for the lead at the quarter pole, dueled with MUSICAL BAND into the stretch, then put that one away late and held off a late charge from LIL CENTRAL to prevail. LIL CENTRAL settled two-wide near the back through the first half, then rallied, weaving through the field on the far turn and in the stretch, closed the gap late but ran out of time. MUSICAL BAND showed good speed from the break and made the lead before the first turn, had SARGE CUSTIVITY pressing the issue to the outside down the backstretch, then dug in when challenged by METARIE at the quarter pole, battled to deep stretch, then yielded inside the sixteenth marker. VON ERICH got squeezed at the start, settled in mid-pack two-wide, ran on some and was mildly gaining in the late stages, but not doing enough to be considered a threat. SOFT HANDS got away well and secured a forward position on the first turn, tracked close up three-wide down the backstretch, kept to the same path through the far turn, then could not find the winning kick in the stretch and was outfinished. SARGE CUSTIVITY pressed the pace two-wide to the far turn, then weakened in the stretch. NATHAN HENRY saved ground throughout, raced near the back of the field to the half, steadied near the five-sixteenths marker but managed to regain momentum, was finishing up the rail then took up sharply near the furlong marker, and lost all chance at that point. HILLBILLY'S HEART was three-wide on the first turn, continued that path in mid-pack through the middle stages, then did not offer a rally. BEE AURELIUS ducked in at the start, raced close up to the far turn, took up sharply near the five-sixteenths marker, lost all momentum, and was galloped to the finish and walked off.