Hyper Piper finds best stride for Evangeline Distaff

Hyper Piper seeks to win her third consecutive stakes race Friday night when she takes on fellow stakes winners Testing One Two and Special Blessing in the $75,000 Evangeline Downs Distaff.

The Distaff, which will be run at one mile, is for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, bred in Louisiana.

Hyper Piper has been building her streak against statebreds – and at the mile distance – having won the $125,000 Premier Night Distaff on Feb. 9 at Delta Downs and the $60,000 Red Camelia on March 16 at Fair Grounds.

“She’s really running good right now,” said Sam David, who trains Hyper Piper. “Hopefully, it transfers over to this track. I think it will.”

Testing One Two also comes off a stakes win, taking the $60,000 Owner Appreciation Distaff on March 8 at Delta.

Evangeline Downs Distaff (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Hyper Piper, by Old Fashioned

Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-73

◗ David feels Hyper Piper might be hitting her peak at the age of 6.

“She was just missing – a lot of seconds and thirds,” he said. “I know she’s older, but the last couple of races she’s put it together, turned the tables on those horses.”

Those rivals include Testing One Two, runner-up in the Premier Night Distaff at 3-5.

◗ Timothy Thornton has the mount on Hyper Piper for owners Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez, and John Duvielh. The mare will break from post 4 in the field of seven.

“She wants something to run at,” David said. “She doesn’t want to get too far back . . . likes a target out there.”

◗ Hyper Piper is looking for her first stakes win at Evangeline, where she won a pair of conditioned allowances back in 2016.

Testing One Two, by Star Guitar

Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-79

◗ She’s looking for the seventh stakes win of her career and her ninth win overall.

◗ Testing One Two has won three of her last four starts, dating back to a neck victory over open company in the $75,000 Treasure Chest on Nov. 16 at Delta Downs.

◗ She won the Louisiana Legends Soiree at Evangeline last year at 3.

◗ Diego Saenz has the mount from post 5 for Brittlyn Stable and trainer Victor Arceneaux.

Special Blessing, by Flat Out

Last 3 Beyers: 59-64-74

◗ She won the Equine Sales Oaks at Evangeline last year at 3.

◗ Special Blessing will be adding blinkers Saturday.

◗ Roberto Morales has the mount for trainer Bret Calhoun.