Evangeline: First turf stakes to be rescheduled

Heavy rain that forced the cancellation of last Saturday's card after one race resulted in the John Henry Stakes - scheduled to be the first stakes over Evangeline's new turf course - being scrapped, but the race will be rescheduled, according to the track's racing secretary, Coleman Lloyd.

"The John Henry will definitely be brought back," Lloyd said. "We just are not sure when. I know it won't be this weekend but [Kentucky] Derby Day is a strong possibility. I will let horsemen know just as soon as we make a final decision."

The John Henry was to have been the homecoming of Costa Rising. The popular star, who has enjoyed much of his success locally en route to almost $900,000 in career earnings, had a successful return over the Fair Grounds turf with an allowance win in late February. He spent 14 months on the sidelines after recovering from surgery to remove a bone chip in the spring of 2008.