Evangeline Downs track report

LAFAYETTE, La. - Trials for the $100,000 D.A. "Shine" Young Futurity, the highlight of the Evangeline Downs stakes program, were held last Friday, with the first four finishers in each of the three qualifying races moving on to the July 4 finals.

The most impressive qualifier was Ten Times Better, a son of Finest Hour. Saddled by leading trainer Keith Bourgeois, Ten Times Better not only recorded the fastest time (59.60 seconds) of the three trials, he won by a dozen lengths with something left. Ten Times Better wore blinkers for the first time in the race, and he improved off his debut.

Bourgeois also sent out the winner of the first trial, One Fiftyfour I.Q. A Zarbyev colt, One Fiftyfour I.Q. also improved significantly from his career debut as he defeated fellow 2-1 favorite R U Joshin Me in 1:00.40 for the five furlongs.

The third and final trial appeared to set up as a two-horse race between Streak of Smoke, a beaten favorite in his local debut on Memorial Day, and Kentucky import Tornado Warning. But Streak of Smoke, a son of Smoke Glacken, turned the race into a one-sided affair, winning by four lengths in 1:00.20.