Evangeline: Statebred champ Reyina shortens up in distance

OPELOUSAS, La. – Reyina, recently crowned co-champion Louisiana-bred 2-year-old filly of 2010 by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, heads the field for the $50,000 Hallowed Dreams Stakes at Evangeline Downs Friday night. She will square off against eight rivals at six furlongs.

Voting by the LTBA produced a tie between Reyina and Tensas Punch for last year’s top accredited Louisiana-bred juvenile filly. It is the first time there has been a tie in the voting since 1975 when Sure Landing and Sassy Bee shared honors as the older accredited Louisiana-bred.

Among Reyina’s conquests in 2010 were victories in the filly division of the John Franks Memorial Sale Stakes at Evangeline last July and the $100,000 Louisiana Lassie at Fair Grounds in December. A daughter of Mr. John, Reyina also finished second in the rich D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity at Evangeline in just her second career start.

Trained by Tony Richey and owned by Danny Ray Butler, Reyina is coming of an uncharacteristically poor outing in the $100,000 Premier Starlet at Delta in early February, her only start as a 3-year-old. Her 10th finish snapped a string of six races in which Reyina had either finished first or second.

“That was her first try around two turns and she obviously did not like it,” said Richey. “She didn’t really take to the track either so we are kind of throwing that race out.”

“We gave her a little break and she has really come back great,” Richey added. “She worked a couple of times in March and we are really pleased with that half-mile at Fair Grounds on March 25. She went 47 3/5 which is exactly what I wanted to tighten her up.”

Richard Eramia will handle the riding chores on Friday night.

Tina Lena Too will be making her stakes debut in the Hallowed Dreams for trainer Glenn Delahoussaye. The daughter of Giacomo has won two of her three starts and narrowly missed in a third while heavily favored each time. Tracy Hebert, leading rider at the recently concluded winter meeting at Delta Downs, has the call.