Good racing, two breeds

A nonwinners-of-four allowance and three Quarter Horse stakes highlight a rare Sunday night program at Evangeline Downs.

All of the revenue generated by the track from Sunday evening's racing program will be donated to the Acadiana Chapter of the Red Cross Relief Fund to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The horsemen have also agreed to donate their share of the revenue.

"It's a night when our entire racing industry will unite to help our fellow Louisianians who are suffering from this horrific event," said Mike Howard, Evangeline Downs general manager.

In the Thoroughbred feature, stakes winner Skymeister will be making his return for trainer Al Stall Jr. A 4-year-old son of Holzmeister, Skymeister won the Arcadia Stakes at Louisiana Downs last summer and has been idle since an unplaced effort in the $100,000 Louisiana Sprint Stakes on Champions Day last December at Fair Grounds.

Max's Missile, a winner in allowance company on Aug. 10 and a third place finisher in a nonwinners-of-four optional affair in his most recent start, comes in sporting the best form in the field. Unplaced in this year's edition of the Arcadia at Louisiana Downs, Max's Missile has become quite fond of the local oval and should vie with Skymeister for the role of favorite.

The three Quarter Horse stakes, each worth $30,000, are the Evangeline Juvenile for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds, the Grand Coteau for statebred 3-year-olds, and St. Landry for older horses.