Ayden's Lil Cat tests win streak

Ayden's Lil Cat, winner of her last two on the turf, will put that streak on the line in Friday night's featured eighth race at Evangeline Downs. The 3-year-old Storm Passage filly will take on eight rivals at a mile in quest of the $36,200 purse.

Overlooked at double-digit odds in each of those two recent wins, Ayden's Lil Cat is sure to have more backers Friday night. The Shawn David charge has successfully employed front-running tactics of late and is well drawn in post 1. Edwin Maldonado will once again be in the saddle.

The primary threat to Ayden's Lil Cat appears to be Shutupanddance. The stakes regular will journey down from trainer Stanley Roberts's base at Louisiana Downs, where she narrowly missed in a similar allowance test on the grass last month.

Should the pace battle become heated, Ashlee's Mom appears to be the best qualified to take advantage. Trained by Mike Burgess, the daughter of Alphabet Soup also has been racing recently at Louisiana Downs and comes off a rallying third-place performance for Friday's second-level allowance condition in her last start.