Evangeline: No Its Not leads sprinters

LAFAYETTE, La. - No Its Not, already a winner of the John Henry Handicap this meet, heads Saturday's Evangeline Downs Sprint Handicap at six furlongs. The $35,000 race drew a field of five.

Oak Hall, the winner of this stakes the past two years, took ill after being nominated to this year's edition, and the race now appears to be No Its Not's to lose.

No Its Not, a 5-year-old gelding by Is It True, has been extremely consistent for owners 901 Racing Stable and trainer Dale Angelle, winning 10 of 15 starts since being claimed in February 2002. Brian Hernandez will once again ride No Its Not, the 121-pound highweight.

Two Punch Sonny, second to No Its Not in the Marshland Stakes at Delta Downs late last year, appears to be the most likely candidate to pull an upset Saturday. Two Punch Sonny last won in allowance company in February and comes off a fourth-place effort to the crack sprinter That Tat at Lone Star on April 11. That race was run in 1:01.88, a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs. Trainer Nathan Broussard will give Guy Smith a leg up at 116 pounds.