Retama Park track report

Bart Evans's success as a breeder, owner and trainer is not limited to racehorses like Almost Certain, with whom he won the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven last Saturday night at Retama. Evans also raised and rode polo star Chicaboom, who in 2000 was inducted into the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.

Evans, inducted in 2001 for his playing skills, has retired from riding in polo matches and now operates a racing stable. He has 14 horses at Retama, including homebred stakes winners Almost Certain and Wishingitwas, who are half-brothers.

Almost Certain defeated 11 others in the El Joven, which was moved from turf to a sloppy main track because of rain.

"He was pretty professional," said Evans. "You never know how any 2-year-old who's never gone a mile is going to run, and you never know how any 2-year-old who's never run on an off track is going to run. You never know how they're going to take the mud in their face and everything else."

Evans's options for Almost Certain include the $125,000 Harrah's Juvenile Breeders' Cup on turf at Louisiana Downs on Oct. 1.

"That's something to look at," he said. "Then there's a race later on up at Remington if I want to give him some more time, a $75,000 stakes going a mile on the dirt. We'll just have to see. I'll let him tell me."

The MEC Mile is Oct. 21.