Evangeline Downs: Desert Ransom heavy favorite in male division of Shine Young Futurity

OPELOUSAS, La. – Louisiana’s best 2-year-olds will go postward in two divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs Saturday night.

The filly division goes as the eighth of 11 races on the evening card and will be worth $131,100, while the colts and geldings go in the 10th for a purse of $124,600. Both races will be contested at five furlongs.

Top billing in the male division goes to Desert Ransom. Trained by Karl Broberg, the son of Gold Tribute recorded an 86 Beyer Speed Figure when winning his maiden at Evangeline on May 16. He followed up that effort with a 76 Beyer when he was moved to the turf and won the Minstrel Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Desert Ransom’s most impressive effort, at least visually, was his 9 1/4-length victory when qualifying for the Shine in his trial on July 7. He received an 84 Beyer.

Desert Ransom has a high turn of early foot and may need it Saturday night, as he will break from post 10 in the 11-horse field. Diego Sanez, aboard for all three of Desert Ransom’s victories, will once again be in the saddle.

Rated as a distant co-second choice at 6-1 on the morning line to Desert Ransom’s 4-5 is Proust, the only other multiple winner in the field. The narrowest of winners at first asking against open maidens on June 1, Proust had an easier time in winning his Shine Young trial when prevailing by a length and a half without being asked for his best.

Trained by Anthony Agilar, Proust ran a full 1.20 seconds slower than Desert Ransom, however, and his resulting 49 Beyer indicates how one-sided the final may prove to be. Trey Agilar has the call.

Fishin Frank, the other 6-1 proposition established by morning-line maker and track announcer John McGary, finished second behind Desert Ransom in the trials. The Salute the Sarge gelding looked much of the part of a talented young runner, however, when winning his maiden by five lengths in his previous start. Also trained by Agilar, but uncoupled with Proust, Fishin Frank will be ridden by Kerwin Clark.

The filly division should prove to be considerably more competitive than that of their male counterparts.

I Dare U Em has been installed a tepid 3-1 morning-line favorite off the strength of a gutsy front-running trial score. A daughter of Lunarpal bred by her trainer Brett Brinkman, I Dare U Em finished second against statebred maidens in mid-May in her only other start. Gerard Melancon will again be aboard.

Also sure to be well thought of is Tujuacagofast. Trained by Al Stall Jr., the Bwana Charlie filly brought $25,000 at the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale in April and has finished second in each of her two starts. Colby Hernandez will once again handle the riding chores.