Wakefield trying to stay perfect in Evangeline Prince

Wakefield figures to start as a strong favorite Saturday night when he puts his perfect 2-for-2 record on the line in the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince. But his trainer, Karl Broberg, is taking nothing for granted. He was quick to point out several rivals of significance, including seven-length debut winner Fat Clemenza.

“He looks solid – broke his maiden impressively,” said Broberg, referring to Fat Clemenza.

The Prince is a six-furlong race for 2-year-old colts and geldings that closes out the meet at Evangeline. It was to have shared a card with the $50,000 Princess, but that race for 2-year-old fillies did not fill, according to track officials.

Wakefield is a son of Munnings who races for Jerry Namy. He won his debut in a maiden special weight over 4 1/2 furlongs May 24 at Lone Star Park. In his subsequent start, Wakefield proved a length best in the $107,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at the same track July 15.

He will break from post 7 in the field of seven Saturday.

“I like the fact that he doesn’t have to be on the lead,” Broberg said. “It looks like we should get a decent pace to run at, probably stuck a little wide. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Broberg said tactics will be in the hands of jockey Timothy Thornton, who into Thursday’s card had a 20-win lead in the standings at Evangeline. Thornton also led all riders in mount earnings with $1.9 million. Broberg, too, was sitting atop the Evangeline standings into Thursday, with a 25-win lead in the standings and meet-best stable earnings of $727,480.

Fat Clemenza has been flattered since his maiden special weight win, with runner-up Discreetgreycat coming back to win a maiden special weight by three lengths at Evangeline.

Fat Clemenza is a son of Closing Argument and the mare Bronze Abe, a multiple stakes winner who earned $520,566. She went 3 for 9 at age 2 and has produced a 2-year-old stakes winner in Westover Wildcat. Colby Hernandez has the mount on Fat Clemenza for trainer Harvey Lourd III.

Drew’s Shot was a 6 1/2-length debut winner last out and is a half-brother to Really Mr. Greely, a Grade 3 winner at 2.

Victory Trip has placed in two stakes, the D.S. “Shine” Young Memorial at Evangeline and the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs.