Evangeline Downs: Hurricane Bluff zips to opening-day Inaugural win

OPELOUSAS, La. - Hurricane Bluff set a blistering pace in Wednesday night’s $50,000 Inaugural Stakes at Evangeline Downs before finding more in the late going to prevail in the opening-day feature for 3-year-olds.

Speargun rallied willingly down the lane but came up a length short for second. Favored Courtesy Cat chased the winner in vain and had to settle for third, followed by Masculino in fourth.

Breaking sharply under Kirk LeBlanc, Hurricane Bluff ($8.80) quickly stepped through opening fractions of 21.55 for the quarter and 44.65 for the half before shaking clear approaching the furlong grounds. He stopped the timer in 1:10.22 for the six furlongs over a fast track.

Trained by Frank Trosclair for owner Chad White, Hurricane Bluff has now won three of his four starts, and Louisiana-bred son of Richter Scale has earned over $83,000.