Evangeline Downs track report

LAFAYETTE, La. - Evangeline Downs has been a longshot player's dream this meet, with five-figure exotic payoffs almost becoming routine, including a record $30,000-plus trifecta earlier in the meeting. Even imperfect trifecta and superfecta tickets, with "all" in the third or fourth spots, have been lucrative.

The trend continued on June 13. A $67.80 winner in the fourth race triggered a $9,500 tri and a $1,400 super with all and all on the bottom two slots. Same story in the eighth, with a $39 winner and a $25 place horse the only two numbers in an all and all super worth $1,600. A $42 winner in the seventh and a $66 victor in the nightcap left a lot of players scratching their heads on their way out.

The next day was a bit more formful, with three trials for the D. S. "Shine" Young Futurity highlighting the program. The Shine is the first leg of the Evangeline triple crown for 2-year-olds, with the finals scheduled for July 4. The Bayouland Sales Stakes follows on Aug. 3, with the Lafayette Stakes slated for Sept. 2, the final day of the meet.

Most impressive of the qualifiers on Friday was One Tough Raiser. Running to his 3-5 price, the Kearney Segura-trained One Tough Raiser won his trial by 6 1/2 lengths. His time of 58.80 seconds for the five furlongs was considerably faster than the other two trial winners. Gerri's Rouge ($19.20) won the first qualifying heat in 1:01 and Justlikejessejames ($15.80) upset 1-2 favorite Ruthy Red in the second trial in a time of 59.60.