Turf Sprint highlights Evangeline Downs stakes schedule
Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., has announced a 21-race, $1.9 million stakes schedule for its Thoroughbred meet that opens on April 8. The highlight is the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint on May 30. The 84-date meet will run through Aug. 29.
The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, a five-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, will be showcased on a special afternoon card of five stakes worth $640,000. The program’s date has been positioned about three weeks earlier than last season, when the inaugural Turf Sprint won by Heitai was held in the latter part of June.
The other stakes on the program will again be the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Opelousas, a 1 1/16- mile turf race for fillies and mares; and a pair of $70,000 stakes at seven furlongs, both restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana.
Also as part of the card, Evangeline plans to feature a pick four with a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000.
Evangeline’s other major stakes program during the season will be the Louisiana Legends card of seven divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds on July 4. The races are worth a cumulative $725,000.
Stall applications for the meet are due on Feb. 20.
| Fri., April 24 | Matron | F-M, 3YO & UP | 1 mile (T) | 60,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 25 | John Henry | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Fri., May 1 | Tellike | F-M, 3YO & UP | 5 furlongs (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat., May 2 | Need For Speed | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat., May 30 | Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 300,000 |
| Sat., May 30 | Evangeline Mile | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 30 | Opelousas | F-M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 30 | Lafayette | 3YO* | 7 furlongs | 70,000 |
| Sat., May 30 | Acadiana | 3YO* F | 7 furlongs | 70,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Classic | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 125,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Distaff | F-M, 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Sprint | 3YO & Up* | 5.5 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle | F-M, 3YO & Up* | 5.5 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Turf | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Cheval | 3YO* | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 4 | Louisiana Legends Soiree | 3YO* F | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 11 | D.S. “Shine” Young | 2YO* F | 5.5 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 11 | D.S. “Shine” Young | 2YO* C&G | 5.5 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 29 | Evangeline Downs Star | 2YO** | 6 furlongs | 75,000 |
| Sat., Aug. 29 | Evangeline Downs Starlet | 2YO** F | 6 furlongs | 75,000 |