Seeking Ms Shelley saves ground in Tellike

Borrowing a page from Calvin Borel's playbook, Gerard Melancon saved ground throughout before rallying up the rail with Seeking Ms Shelley to capture the $50,000 Tellike Stakes on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. Elle a Gent finished 4 1/2 lengths back in second, followed Flawless Gold, last year's winner of the Tellike.

Unhurried early after breaking from post 6, Melancon began to move Seeking Ms Shelly ($7.20) midway on the turn in the five-furlong grass sprint for fillies and mares. The two gained command with a furlong to run and steadily drew clear in a time of 57.99 seconds over firm turf.

Trained by Joe Duhon, Seeking Ms Shelley has now won half of her 10 starts. The daughter of Cactus Ridge earned $30,000 for her first stakes victory and has now banked just less than $130,000.