G’s Josh, Halfandtwoquarters head up respective Shine divisions

OPELOUSAS, La. – Louisiana’s first 2-year-old stakes action of the year is set for Saturday night at Evangeline Downs with two divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity. Each will be worth a guaranteed $100,000 and will be contested at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Even though the Shine is restricted to Louisiana-breds, two of the major players Saturday got their starts in Texas.

G’s Josh, an Early Flyer colt trained by Bret Calhoun, and Halfandtwoquarters, a daughter of Half Ours conditioned by Shea Stuart, could rule as the public’s choices in their respective divisions off impressive maiden wins at Lone Star Park near Dallas. Calhoun said it was timing rather than geography that dictated where his colt made his debut.

“They start their 2-year-old racing earlier at Lone Star than Evangeline,” Calhoun said Wednesday. “He was an early developer and was ready earlier. He was also nominated to the Sales Futurity over there, which was the original plan, but the more we looked at what we had in the barn for that race, the Shine just looked like a better spot for him.”

Calhoun said he was pleased with G’s Josh’s coming-out party.

“I thought he did things right,” he said. “He laid just off the pace in third before taking over and winning off in hand. He did it pretty easy.”

Colts and geldings (race 8)

Key contenders

G’s Josh (Last Beyer: 68)

* Amazon Storm, second in G’s Josh’s maiden win, came back to flatter him by winning his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths at Indiana Grand in his only start since.

* Calhoun maintains a small local string of mostly Louisiana-breds. He quietly is having a steady meet, with a record of 7-7-7 from 44 starters.

Our Rapidash (Last 2 Beyers: 56-36)

* Showed marked improvement in his second start with the addition of blinkers, which seemed to correct the problems he had leaving the gate in his debut.

Cale’s Gold (Last Beyer: 49)

* Was not a very well-kept secret in his first start, as the public pounded him down to odds-on. While he did not win by an overwhelming margin or post a gaudy Beyer Speed Figure, he did overcome a troubled start.

* He is trained by leading conditioner Karl Broberg, who is winning at a remarkable 48 percent rate two-thirds of the way through the season. His strike rate with 2-year-olds, however, is a much more mortal 19 percent over the last two years.

Fillies (race 9)

Key contenders

Halfandtwoquarters (Last Beyer: 65)

* Posted the best career Beyer in the field with that impressive maiden score and did so without feeling the whip. Stuart has won with 33 percent of his juvenile starters over the last two years.

Elegant Idea (Last 3 Beyers: 64-62-61)

* Is the most seasoned of the group and has crossed the wire first twice. The addition of blinkers last time seemed to improve her early foot, so she might be the quickest of the quick in here.