Evangeline Downs: Fishin Frank controls pace in D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity victory

OPELOUSAS, La. – Fishin Frank helped control the pace throughout in Saturday night’s $124,600 colt and gelding division of the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs and emerged the winner by three-quarters of a length.

Go Lil Tiger stalked the early leaders, before rallying down the lane to be getting to the winner in the late going to finish second. Desert Ransom, heavily favored at 1-5, contested the pace outside the winner, but drifted out and weakened late to report home third, followed by Klozer.

Mr. Bandini’s Band and Mr. Politico were scratched.

Trained by Anthony Agilar, Fishin Frank ($13.40) won for the second time in four starts and avenged a distant second-place finish to Desert Ransom when they met in a qualifying heat earlier this month. He won for the second time in four starts to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes. The Salute the Sarge gelding covered the five furlongs in 58.70 seconds over a fast strip.

In the $131,000 filly division of the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity, Tujuacagofast, second to Suitefriendsofmine in their qualifying trial three weeks ago, turned the tables in the final and rallied strongly from off the pace to edge clear of that same rival to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths.

Dawn’s Cherokee, who took over the lead in midstretch after stalking the early pace, could not repel the top two and had to settle for third, followed by Boogie N Again. I Dare U Em, the 5-2 second choice behind the winner, contested the pace before weakening in the drive and struggled home eighth in the field of 11. Tracas was scratched.

The final time for the five furlongs was 59.45.

Tujuacagofast ($6.80) is trained by Al Stall Jr. for Nathan Granger and was ridden by Coby Hernandez. The daughter of Bwana Charlie, who brought $25,000 at the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale at Lone Star Park in April, won for the first time after finishing second in her two previous starts.