Evangeline Downs

REAUX BAN DA MAN was hustled from the start to get forward position, initially stalked the pacetting duo along the rail, then moved up to challenge for the lead approaching the half-mile pole, dueled inside of SOFT HANDS from that point, engaged that rival in a spirited battle to the finish well ahead of the rest of the field, and got a head in front in the final yards to prevail. SOFT HANDS broke off-balance to the inside and bumped with LIL CENTRAL at the start, then was sent hard to establish a forward position, won the race to the first turn, and took a narrow lead with SEIZE THE WIN joining on the outside turning on to the backstretch, dueled with REAUX BAN DA MAN through the turn, leaving the other rival behind, showed determination through the stretch, though headed in the final strides. LIL CENTRAL got bumped by SOFT HANDS at the break, then was allowed to settle after the break, was carried out a couple of paths on the first bend, losing some ground, angled to the inside, then rushed up to join the main pack, steadily advanced up the inside, came under a drive on the far turn, and stayed on to gain the place, while never a threat to the two pair. SEIZE THE WIN pressed the pace three to four wide, weakened near the three-furlong pole, and tired in the stretch. TEARS FOR THEE lost the path and got shuffled back after the start, settled between rivals in the trio at the back of the pack, finished evenly with slight improvement. YANKEE PRINCE tracked behind the leading group through the first half-mile, was called upon for more run going into the far turn, but did not respond with a late bid. SEEKING ACES was off a step slow, raced three-wide with the third group near the back, then lacked a finish. SHALOM broke well, then took a bump from YANKEE PRINCE, got put in a tight spot on the first turn, took up sharply, went to the outside but became rank through that initial turn, dropped far back, lost interest, and trailed the rest of the way, passing one rival before the finish. SHRED IT UP showed good speed from the start, steadied in traffic on the first turn, settled mid-pack on the inside, and tired before the stretch.

SAINT PETER'S BAY was allowed to settle after the break, moved closer to be in range of the leaders approaching the half-mile pole, bided time behind horses through the turn, then slipped out four wide into the clear for the stretch run and finished best to win going away while drifting out through the final furlong. SCALLYWAG was four-wide in the early pace scramble, backed off at the half-mile pole, lost ground through the turn, swung out five or six wide into the stretch, and found a second wind to rally for the second prize. DUVEE was hustled away and in front in the initial stages, battled inside of rivals down the backstretch and through the turn, gained the lead in upper stretch but was unable to outfinish the closers on the outside, but kept on gamely to save third. RAZOR CREST hopped at the start and was devoid of early speed and trailed far back early, kept on with a steady pace racing in the two to three path, and improved. MUD ON MY BOOTS disputed the early pace two-deep racing between rivals, got a head in front late on the turn, but yielded at the top of the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. TRACK RANGER was under a drive from the start but unable to contest the pace, steadily retreated to be last heading into the turn, chased while still under a drive, moved to the inside and passed tired rivals late. LO LO'S LAUGHTER vied three-deep in the early pace mix, remained a threat to the top of the stretch, then did not respond when put to urging and faded. WHISKEY AND EASY saved ground mid-pack to the stretch, had no late bid. DR. NIKO broke awkwardly, then recovered and raced wide in the tracking group and lacked a finish. DONEGAL MOONSHINE broke slow, chased at the back of the field under a ride, raced three-wide then five-wide into the stretch, and faltered. DEWCLAW raced five-wide and lacked a rally.

ARCHTOP broke a step slow but quickly rushed up to seize the early lead, fended off a bid by CHACANERY through the turn, had a little trouble with the lead change at the head of the stretch but got straightened out and held clear to the wire under steady handling and urging. CHICANERY bobbled at the start, moved up late on the turn to press ARCHTOP on the lead, but was turned back at the top of the stretch, then chased that rival to the finish while unable to close the gap. EL MAXIMO veered in at the start, chased under a drive in mid-field along the rail, came out to the three path in the stretch, was mildly gaining ground in the late stages, and earned the minor award. REGARDLESS ducked out sharply at the start, then was chasing the rest near the back heading into the turn, kept to the inside and outfinished tired foes to improve. GULF DIVER off a step slow, then was four-wide close up to the early pace, loomed a three-wide threat at the head of the lane, but faltered. GREYSTAR broke well, pressed the pace three-wide, was under a drive from the turn, but lacked the needed response in the late stages. OO IT'S MAGIC got broadsided by REGARDLESS at the break, took up, giving the rest of the field a head start, swung out six-wide into the stretch but was unable to improve. YALLA VAMOS got bumped by EL MAXIMO at the start, then, bothered a bit by REGARDLESS right after, chased from the middle of the pack, struggled to keep pace through the turn, then had little to offer in the stretch.

RILEYS EMPIRE seized the early lead, was left to dictate moderate fractions to the far turn, opened up on the field late and went clear under steady handling. BRONZE LEGACY settled at the rear, then rallied five wide into the stretch and was moved up into second. NO MAP NEEDED settled near the back without only one rival behind, circled the field on the far turn to move up into second position, turning for home, was unable to close the gap on the winner and was outfinished for the place. Y CITY raced close up along the inside, then lacked a finish. ST. TAMMANY raced three-wide close to the early pace but did not kick on late. WALKSONWATER chased the eventual winner in second position down the backstretch, the seakened on the turn and had nothing left for the stretch run.