Evangeline Downs cancels rich Turf Sprint, adds seven stakes
Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., has made a host of changes to its 26-race, $2 million stakes schedule for the Thoroughbred meet that opens April 6. The track has discontinued the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint but added seven new stakes races, including four offerings for 3-year-olds. The 84-date meet runs through Aug. 27.
The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, which was introduced in 2014, ended up having just one running after flooding forced the cancellation of the card it anchored in 2015. Evangeline has since restructured its stakes schedule, with this year’s opening weekend ushering in two of the track’s new stakes. The Cajun Miss is for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs April 8, and the Ragin Cajun is for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs April 9. Each race is worth $50,000.
Other new stakes offerings at this meet include the Equine Sales Oaks on May 6 and the Equine Sales Derby on May 7. The races each cover 1 1/16 miles and are worth $75,000. The restricted stakes are being run in partnership with the Equine Sales Co., located near Evangeline.
The $775,000 Louisiana Legends Night program of eight Louisiana-bred stakes is July 2. The $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up anchors a card of three stakes June 4.
Purses are projected to average $165,000 a program, according to the track. Stall applications are due Feb. 19.
2015 Evangeline Downs stakes schedule
| DATE | RACE | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri., Apr. 8 | Cajun Miss | 3YO Fillies | 7F | $50,000 |
| Sat., Apr. 9 | Ragin Cajun | 3YO Open | 7F | $50,000 |
| Fri., Apr. 22 | Opelousas | 3YO & UP F&M | 1M (T) | $60,000 |
| Sat., Apr. 23 | John Henry | 3YO & UP Open | 1 1/16M (T) | $60,000 |
| Fri., May 6 | Equine Sales Oaks | 3YO Fillies** | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Sat., May 7 | Equine Sales Derby | 3YO Open** | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Fri., June 3 | Tellike | 3YO & UP F&M | 5F (T) | $60,000 |
| Fri., June 3 | Spotted Horse | 3YO & UP F&M | 1M | $75,000 |
| Fri., June 3 | Acadiana | 3YO Fillies* | 7F | $70,000 |
| Sat., June 4 | Evangeline Mile | 3YO & UP | 1M | $100,000 |
| Sat., June 4 | Need For Speed | 3YO & UP | 5F (T) | $60,000 |
| Sat., June 4 | Lafayette | 3YO Open* | 7F | $70,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Classic | 3YO & UP Open* | 1 1/16M | $125,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Distaff | 3YO & UP F&M* | 1 1/16M | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Sprint | 3YO & UP Open* | 5 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Madamoiselle | 3YO & UP F&M* | 5 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Turf | 3YO & UP Open* | 1 1/16M (T) | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Cheval | 3YO Open* | 1M (T) | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 2 | Louisiana Legends Soiree | 3YO Fillies* | 1M (T) | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 16 | D.S. "Shine" Young | 2YO Fillies* | 5 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sat., July 16 | D.S. "Shine" Young | 2YO C&G* | 5 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 20 | Owner's Day Distaff | 3YO & UP F&M** | 1 1/16M (T) | $60,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 20 | Owner's Day | 3YO & UP** | 1 1/16M (T) | $60,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 27 | Evangeline Downs Prince | 2YO Open | 6F | $75,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 27 | Evangeline Downs Starlet | 2YO Fillies | 6F | $75,000 |
*Louisiana-bred
**Restricted