Poni Colada tries dirt

Ten 2-year-olds are set to line up and go seven furlongs in a $26,000 allowance at Louisiana Downs.

Poni Colada will be making his first start on dirt. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he was fifth in the Sunnys Halo Stakes on the grass in his last start and won at first asking, also on the turf. A speedy Volponi colt, he catches a field without an overwhelming amount of speed. Tracy Hebert will attempt to exploit this tactical advantage.

Should the pace scenario turn out to be a bit more spirited than anticipated, Gangbuster offers a nice option. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, Gangbuster came home as his name suggests in his debut on Aug. 15, rallying from 13th and last to win going away down the center of the Evangeline Downs strip. Kirk LeBlanc has been given the call.

Cowboy Shoes is the only two-time winner in Mondays headliner,

having won a maiden-claiming race at Lone Star in late May and a $30,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two there. Leading rider Carlos Gonzalez will ride for Bret Calhoun.

Recent maiden winners Suddenly Kool and Viva Boa also merit consideration.