Mystery Train holds on late for Evangeline Mile victory

OPELOUSAS, La. – Breaking sharply under leading rider Colby Hernandez, California invader Mystery Train took command at the start and did not look back in capturing Saturday night’s Evangeline Mile. The favored Stormdriver rallied to challenge the winner in midstretch but could not get by and settled for second, three-quarters of a length back. The longshot Skipberry finished another 4 3/4 lengths behind in third.

Trained by Darrell Vienna, the Argentine-bred Mystery Train ($8.20) settled into a lively but seemingly comfortable rhythm on the front end and was length in front after a half-mile in 46.79 seconds. With Hernandez still sitting chilly on the 5-year-old ridgling by Not For Sale through a three-quarter split in 1:11.94, Stormdriver loomed prominently on the outside turning into the stretch. Under steady encouragement, Mystery Train held that foe at bay to the wire and stopped the timer in 1:37.68 over a fast strip.

The win was the first for Mystery Train in the U.S. after posting eight wins in his native Argentina. The Jed Cohen color bearer now has earned more than $510,000 in his 25-race career.

** In the evening’s other stakes action, Hernandez’s younger sister Courtney Hernandez picked up her first career stakes win after guiding the promising Thiscatcanjam ($11.60) to a front-running score in the $70,000 Acadiana Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Alan Klanfer, the daughter of Big Top Cat finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of the 13-10 favorite Persuade Me Lady in a time of 1:24.65 for the six furlongs.

** In the $70,000 Lafayette, Mobile Bay swept to the front while five wide through the turn under Diego Saenz before drawing clear by 4 1/4 lengths over Derek Fever. The Victor Arceneaux covered the seven panels in 1:24.21 and paid $10.80.