Hebert pair head their Young Futurity trials

Trainer Doris Hebert has the horse to beat in two of the three trial races for the $150,000 estimated D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity on Thursday night at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, La. The five-furlong finale, restricted to 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana, is set for July 3.

The trial races were to be run last Friday night but were canceled because wet weather caused Evangeline Downs's stretch lights to malfunction. The trials are to be run over five furlongs, and the purse for each race is $11,000.

Hebert, who developed 2-year-old stakes winner Bet Me Best, has five horses entered in the trials Thursday, three of whom won maiden races at first asking.

Hebert's most talented colt runs in the fifth race, which is the first of the trials. Hail to Bag was a 7 1/2-length winner of his debut, which came at Lone Star Park on May 12. Since that race he worked a bullet three furlongs in 35.20 seconds at his home base of Evangeline Downs on June 2.

"He's my biggest hope for the Futurity," Hebert said of Hail to Bag. Steve Bourque will ride the colt, and will also be aboard Abagfullofit, the likely favorite in the last trial of the night, the eighth race, by virtue of his 6 1/2-length romp in his debut, which came at Evangeline Downs on May 16. The colt has worked well since, drilling three furlongs in 35.60 seconds on June 2, second-fastest work at the distance behind stablemate Hail to Bag.

In the seventh race, Herbert and Bourque will team up with Attack Zak, who was a nose winner of her debut, which came against fillies at Evangeline Downs on May 12. In her first start against males, her biggest threat is Connie's Deputy, who finished second to Abagfullofit in his debut May 16. Jockey Ricky Faul has the mount for leading trainer Keith Bourgeois.