Pick 5 at Evangeline Downs June 16, 2022: Key Ingredients 

Our key ingredients are there for Thursday’s Pick 5 at Evangeline Downs: a popular favorite who we are against and a free-space single. In Race 6, we have a likely heavy favorite #4 Flat Rose (5-2) who along with her seconditis is winless at this distance and at Evangeline. If that isn’t enough reason to play this Pick 5, we also have a free space in #6 G’s Squeeze (9-5) in Race 5.

All As: $6

4 As and 1 B: $38

4 As and 2Bs: $79.50

Race 4: Turf, about 7 1/2 furlongs, Clm 12500(12.5-10)N3L 3yo & up

Early speed signed on, along with many with no recent turf tries/form. We can use these three confidently while protecting our ticket moving forward with Karl Broberg/Vicente Del-Cid as a B.

A: #2 Special Bingo (3-1) is dropping in class after running a career highest speed figure. He is the fastest turf-router and has a class edge—only pause is the drop. #4 Henning (5-2) looked brilliant beating a weak bunch last out. Can’t single. #9 Poseidon Wrath (8-1) beat a decent field his last go around the green. I doubt we’ll get the ML price in any pool.

B: #1 Bourbon St Tappin (7-2) has the form but not the pedigree to be successful on turf.

Race 5: Dirt, 5 1/2 furlongs, Alw 23000N1X 3yo & up fillies

A: Single #6 G’s Squeeze (9-5). She can win off the pace, and Del-Cid has the perfect outside post against a handful of frontrunners to do just that. Del-Cid and Ron Faucheux could spell world domination.

Race 6: Dirt, 7 furlongs, Clm 5000N2L 3yo & up fillies

A: #2 Kiki Kat (12-1) ran her best race two back off the break, comes back and hates the mud, and as long as we are fast, should improve off that two-back effort. #7 Enough Heart (7-2) needs the lead to win and has no excuses for not being able to get it against these. Though, if headed, he folds, so I don’t feel confident singling. 

B: Hard to trust #3 Lumberjack Empire (6-1)’s best run because it came in the mud, but he’s returning to one turn and Joe Stokes is back up, so another side of the coin is we have possible value here. #5 Suffragette (3-1) gets blinkers for a low-percentage blinkers-on trainer, but the winter 2022 form can’t be ignored; however, this one has the feel of a social runner. #6 Baby Maybe (10-1) has faced tougher, comes in fresh and gets the hot jockey C.J. McMahon up.

Race 7: Turf, about 5 furlongs, Alw 24000N3L 3 yo & up fillies

A: #2 Lillie Dell (9-2) has the speed to take this field from go to woe. Ran against tough fields before the near-yearlong layoff. The time off gives pause because she might not be fit enough to sustain, but the pace set-up outweighs those concerns.

B: #4 Splenda Gail (2-1) is consistent and proven at this distance, on the run, and at Evangeline. Hard to knock. #6 Sweet Temperament (3-1) switches over to grass for Keith Bourgeois, and the pedigree and form are there to suggest she’ll take to it. #7 La Tress Gray (7-2) is 2-for-2 and has the pedigree for the turf.

Race 8: Dirt, 6 furlongs, Md 7500 3yo & up statebred fillies

A: 1 Scrappy (5-1) returned to sprint last out and sizzled early before fading, but winners that night were closing down the center, and she should be more fit while dropping in against these. #5 Saberfight (15-1) makes her second start for Ronnie Averett, a trainer who has only won two out of his last 71 first-time starters but has six wins with the last 26 second-time starters sprinting at Evangeline. Big impact.

B: #6 Grace’s Vision (10-1) gets hot jockey McMahon up. #8 Cupie Cutie (8-1) comes out for hot trainer Scott Gelner with top jock Del-Cid up. #9 Custom Guitar (9-5) ran against the track profile last out, drops in class, retains Timothy Thornton, and has the figures to compete against these.