Snowball stays at two turns in Evangeline Downs Distaff

Snowball has established herself as a late-running sprinter of note in her home state of Louisiana, but on Friday night she runs two turns in the $60,000 Evangeline Downs Distaff.

The one-mile race is for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana. The field of seven includes Saints N Muskets, the probable favorite following a win in the Shantel Lanerie Memorial in March at Fair Grounds.

Snowball ran second in the mile and 70-yard Shantel Lanerie. She rallied for a close third in the two-turn Louisiana Premier Distaff in February at Delta Downs.

Snowball, who is 5, won at two turns as a 3-year-old in the Louisiana Legends Soiree at Evangeline. The next year, she captured the track’s Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle over 5 1/2 furlongs. Snowball closed from next-to-last in the Mademoiselle, and used the same tactics a few months later when she won the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Louisiana Downs.

Trainer Sam Breaux said Snowball relaxes better going two turns than she did earlier in her career.

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“As she’s gotten older, she’s relaxing,” he said. “She doesn’t grab a hold of the bit quite as fast.

“Right now, the route races are the only races we have for her,” Breaux said, adding Snowball would be moved back to a sprint distance later in the meet for the Mademoiselle.

Snowball is a gray mare by Apriority who races for Tin Roof Farms. Her connections also have her 3-year-old half-brother at Evangeline. He’s by Palace and is named Mr. Snowflake.

Snowball will break from post 6 under Diego Saenz. She’s looking for her fourth win on the main track at Evangeline.

Saints N Muskets earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78 for her win in the Shantel Lanerie, and it’s the best career number in the Evangeline Distaff field. The win was the third stakes victory for the mare, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning sprinter Laughingsaintssong. Joe Stokes has the mount from post 3 for Rodney Verret and trainer Allen Landry.

Quickfast N Ahurry won the Louisiana Premier Distaff over both Saints N Muskets and Snowball in February. Gerard Melancon, who was 10 wins from 5,000 riding victories entering Wednesday night’s card, has the mount from post 2.