Bernier's Evangeline Downs pick four analysis

Saturday night’s Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint pick four sequence (races 5-8) is an absolute beast on paper. Forty-one horses comprise the four-race arrangement, with each race featuring contentious fields. If you’re going to hit this pick four, you are going to need to do some phenomenal handicapping and likely will require some racing luck. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the players in each leg of the wager.

Race 5 – The Acadiana, 7 furlongs on the main track

The Acadiana is a rather tough way to start the sequence, as you could go any number of ways.

Our Quista earned the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the field (76) and should prove difficult against this group of fillies. Although she earned that Beyer on the grass, she’s proven in the past she can handle the dirt and the turn back from a mile to seven furlongs should work to her benefit.

Another Pinot exits the same race as Our Quista does, but she’s getting dangerously close to becoming a filly that is best used underneath. In her seven career starts, she’s been the bridesmaid three times while only visiting the winner’s circle once. She’s a use – but only as a “B” or a “C.”

Off Cycle stretches out after doing her best work at shorter, but she looms as the strongest speed horse of the group. If she handles the added ground, she’s a major player in this race.

Sweet Alive Benbow was without question the most visually impressive filly in her last race, defeating an N2L group with ease. She’s run in the exacta all three times she’s run at Evangeline Downs and a replica of her latest performance would make her a very formidable foe.

Others who can’t be dismissed include Shelby’s Song and Indian Wind.

Race 6 – The Opelousas, 8.5 furlongs on the turf

Possibly the most wide-open race of the pick four, the Opelousas features 12 relatively evenly matched fillies and mares, with many possessing great records throughout their careers.

Class Included gets some major – and much-needed – class relief, following an extremely dull effort in the Grade I Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April. She’s the classiest filly of the lot and likely will be the favorite come post time, but do you really want a 3-1 shot in such a contentious field?

Malibu Yankee exits a nice win May 10 at Arlington Park, and she could be approaching her peak performance. Although there isn’t much pace signed on in this spot, she’s still likely to be a bit farther back than she was in her victory at Arlington. With a good trip, she should be in the thick of things toward the end.

Tensas Harbor enters the Opelousas off an eye-catching victory on the main track last month, when she trailed the leaders by 14 through the first half-mile, only to run them all down late and finish full of run. She’s 2 for 3 over the Evangeline turf course and clearly has ability, but her chances could be slightly compromised by the pace scenario.

Satin Gold won a race May 1 at Lone Star, and it has proven to be a very live heat. Three horses have returned to win their subsequent starts, including the runner up Molly’s Honour, who earned an 88 Beyer in her next outing (stakes race). The running line doesn’t do Satin Gold justice, as she had to wait an exorbitant amount of time before finding a seam on the rail and unwinding her run. She has a tremendous late turn of foot, and she looms dangerous here at 12-1 on the morning line.

Cases could be made for numerous others, including Hot Tempo and All Woman.

Race 7 – The Evangeline Mile, 8 furlongs on the main track

This may be the one race where tickets can be pared down and keyed in on one or two horses – which is especially helpful when playing a multi-race wager that appears as difficult as this one does.

Grand Contender has developed into a very steady racehorse over the past eight months, posting nothing lower than a 93 Beyer over his past eight starts. There are a few other horses in the race that like to do their running on the front end, but Grand Contender is the true quality speed of the race. While his chances may be slightly affected by the “cheaper” speed, it’s entirely possible he’s just in career form and can handle the early challenges the other runners will throw at him.

Sunbean is a very nice Louisiana-bred who has been very successful over the past year, and he’s likely to be the beneficiary of an early pace duel that could develop. He’s shown he loves the track at Evangeline, and he’s very likely to sit the perfect trip just off the pacesetters. Expect Richard Eramia to have this son of Brahms sitting on “go” as the field turns for home.

On his absolute best day, Called to Serve likely would lap this field – the only problem is he hasn’t produced one of those kinds of efforts in nearly 15 months. He’s another who should sit a beautiful trip, but it’s not crazy to think that his best days are well beyond him, and he’s over the hill.

Race 8 – The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, 5 furlongs on the grass

If you’ve made it through the first three legs – congratulations! You’ve not only reached the payoff leg of this brutally difficult pick four, but you’ve also reached the main event of the evening.

A classy group of turf sprinters has been assembled for this five furlong dash, but the most notable horse in the field likely is Gantry. Although he’s only 2 for 6 lifetime on the grass, he’s 1 for 2 at this tricky five-furlong distance. His effort in the Shakertown at Keeneland was a bit disconcerting, but it can be argued that his outside draw didn’t do him any favors. If he runs back to some of his prior efforts, it’s likely the rest of the field is running for second honors.

Sum of the Parts is another well-known name running in this race, and he’ll be breaking from the far outside post. There needs to be some concern that he could get hooked up in an early speed duel with a horse such as Heitai, and that could doom each of them. Sum of the Parts has done much of his best running either on or just off the lead, but when you’ve got a runner like Heitai involved – who routinely runs 21-second opening quarter-miles – it could take the starch out of each of them as they get into deep stretch.

Solar Charge is another contender in the Turf Sprint, as he was doing his best running late in his latest effort. The main concern for this son of Authenticate is the five furlongs; it appears as though he’d benefit from an added panel (or two), and unfortunately, he won’t get that here. One thing is certain – he’ll be flying home late.

Others to consider include Berlino Di Tiger and Snappy Girl.

Below you’ll find two sample tickets for Saturday night’s sequence using DRF Ticketmaker – one for smaller and one for bigger budgets.

Need another reason to play the Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint pick four Saturday night? Look no further – DRF Bets is offering a 10 percent bonus during this sequence, which is a nice added incentive to play an already-appealing pick four sequence.

Best of luck!