Evangeline Downs track report

Bettors will have plenty of good-looking recent form to work with in Friday night's $50,000 Genesis Stakes at Evangeline Downs, at least on paper. No fewer than five of the 3-year-old fillies entered are coming off a win, and while none of those victories came in stakes company, several in the field will likely be sporting plenty of black type before the year is out.

Kat Nan Do and New Hope Seven, each well-connected and victorious in optional claiming company at the recently concluded Fair Grounds meeting at Louisiana Downs, will likely vie for favoritism in the six-furlong Genesis, provided they both start. They, along with likely third choice Elliecat, are also under consideration for Saturday's Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Cole Norman, Kat Nan Do returned to action on Jan. 12 after some freshening and made short work of a solid group of entry-level allowance types. Stalking the pace early in the six-furlong race, she wove through the field down the stretch to prevail by a length in a rapid 1:10.71. She earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure, which gives her a slight advantage in that department over New Hope Seven.

New Hope Seven, trained by Tom Amoss, came from slightly off the pace to take another step through her conditions in her most recent start. She kicked clear in the late going to prevail by almost four lengths. The resulting 87 Beyer came close to the 90 figure she earned in a second-place performance in a similar spot in her previous start.