Magic Vow a strong contender in Evangeline Mile

Magic Vow has registered both of his stakes wins on dirt, and he will be moving back to dirt off a turf victory for the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile on Saturday night. The Evangeline Mile drew eight, led by Brad Cox trainee Dazzling Gem, and is the richest open-company stakes of the meet.

Evangeline will run a total of four stakes Friday night and Saturday. The races are worth a cumulative $275,000 and include the $75,000 Spotted Horse for fillies and mares, which drew Adore.

Magic Vow will break from post 8 in the Evangeline Mile and will start as one of the top contenders following a head victory in an optional $20,000 claiming race at a mile on turf June 7 at Evangeline. Kerwin Clark was aboard for that win, the rider’s second since coming back from injuries that had sidelined him since March. Trainer Allen Landry has named Clark to ride in the Evangeline Mile.

“He ran such a huge race to win,” Clark said of the June 7 race. “It was really, really nice. We have history. I’ve been riding him from the start. We’ve won a few stakes together.”

Clark teamed with Magic Vow to take the Louisiana Legacy in November 2016 at Delta Downs, and last year at Evangeline the pair dominated the Equine Sales Derby.

The complete field from the rail is Lucky Andy, Sir Genghis, No One Greater, Grande Basin, Dazzling Gem, Plot Twist, Mocito Rojo, and Magic Vow.

Sir Genghis was cross-entered in a Wednesday night allowance at Evangeline.

The feature Thursday night is the eighth race, an entry-level allowance at a mile on turf. Battle Colors is a candidate to wire the field in what will be his turf debut. Colby Hernandez has the mount for trainer Keith Bourgeois.