Kupuna takes the rail route to Evangeline Downs Mile triumph

Kupuna rushed up the rail en route to a 5 1/2-length win over Five Star General in the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile on Saturday night.

It was another length back in third to Chrome Baby.

The Evangeline Mile shared a card with the $60,000 Lafayette won by The Donegal Clan ($4.80).

Kupuna ($5.20) was content to let the speed go, settling off fractions of 23.68 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.44 for the half-mile. He advanced along the rail, moved out to bid for the lead through six furlongs in 1:12.55, then resumed racing along the fence.

Kupuna whittled past leader Five Star General in midstretch, and increased his advantage to the wire while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:38.26.

Mitchell Murrill was aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun.

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Kupuna is a son of Hard Spun who races for Wayne Sanders and Highlander Training Center. He was winning his first stakes in the Evangeline Mile and overall has compiled a career record of 4 for 17 for earnings of $385,503.

Five Star General won last year’s Evangeline Mile.

The Donegal Clan rallied into fractions of 23.59 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.23 for the half-mile to win the Lafayette by 1 1/4 lengths over Drewmania. The winner covered six furlongs for 3-year-olds in 1:13.59.

C.J. McMahon was aboard for trainer Dane Noel.

The Donegal Clan was winning his first stakes. He is owned by Donegal Racing.

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