Pish looks to say hot in Evangeline Downs Prince

Trainer Danny Pish will be looking to win his third 2-year-old stakes in just more than a month’s time Saturday night, when he sends out Thirsty Wildcat in the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince.

The barn’s run of juvenile stakes wins started July 14 with Gee She Sparkles in the $109,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park. Pish added the $75,000 El Joven on Aug. 14, when Deviant captured the signature race at Retama Park.

Thirsty Wildcat is part of a six-horse field for the Evangeline Downs Prince, a six furlong race that serves as the final stakes of the meet. The maiden special weight winner comes off a fifth-place finish in the $65,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile on July 26 at Prairie Meadows.

“He did okay – had a bad start,” Pish said. “He was a bit overanxious, and it caused him to make a little mistake leaving the starting gate. Young horses do that sometimes. We’re looking for a better performance at Evangeline.”

Deviant turned in a memorable effort in the El Joven, when he shuttled home by 7 1/4 lengths in what was his two-turn and turf debut. In the process, he won his maiden and became the first stakes winner for the stallion Daredevil.

“Very impressive performance,” Pish said. “We’re a little uncertain what’s next. We’re leaning toward Louisiana Downs. They have kind of a parallel race, maybe slightly tougher.”

The $60,000 Sunday Silence, a 7 1/2-furlong turf race for 2-year-olds, will be held on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 7 at Louisiana Downs.

Deviant was among a handful of young horses Pish had based in Kentucky earlier this year, and the colt picked up checks in all three of his maiden special weight appearances at Churchill Downs.

“We brought him and a couple of other maidens we wanted to try at that level,” Pish said. “One of the reasons we went up there was because we thought he might be of that caliber, as well as a couple of others. We thought they might be of that quality. We’ll probably go back next year with some of the 2-year-old maidens we like.”

Deviant races for Red Lane Thoroughbreds. Pish and GFB Racing own Gee She Sparkles, who was the first stakes winner for her sire, Race Day.

Pish has gone 6 for 24 with 2-year-olds this season. His winners include Cedar Hall, who was second in the $75,000 La Senorita on Aug. 14 at Retama. The race marked the two-turn and turf debut for the daughter of Bayern.

“She’s a nice, developing filly,” Pish said.

He said Cedar Hall could run next at Louisiana Downs in the $60,000 Happy Ticket, a 7 1/2-furlong turf race for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 7.