Daily Picks

Evangeline Picks & Predictions — June 12, 2026

Friday, June 12, 20269 racesEvangeline

It's a warm Friday afternoon at Evangeline Downs — partly cloudy skies and 89°F on the thermometer, which means the dirt is likely running fast and speed will be at a premium all day. Nine races are on the card, all claiming or allowance-level action, with a lone turf race sneaking into Race 7 to keep things interesting.

This is a workmanlike card built for bettors who do their homework. Seven of the nine races run on dirt, distances range from a quick 5 furlongs all the way out to a mile, and the pace scenarios shift enough race to race that you'll want a clear picture before you step to the windows. TrackWiz has you covered.

Three races are fully unlocked for every reader today — Races 1, 2, and 3 — giving you a solid foundation before the card heats up. The best of the afternoon may be hiding in the back half, so keep scrolling.

Best Bets

Race 1

10:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open claiming opener at 6½ furlongs where the TrackWiz ratings reveal a clear top tier — but the morning line is sleeping on the real class of this field.

win4Echo DownML 8/1

Echo Down is the standout on our ratings with an 79.79 — nearly five points clear of the next best horse — and a 60% career win rate that is frankly extraordinary for a claimer at this level. Jansen Melancon picks up the mount, a key positive as he's one of the sharper sticks in this jockey colony. Posted at 8/1 on the morning line, the market hasn't caught up to what the numbers are screaming here, making this a genuine value proposition on top.

place7CharcoML 3/1

Charco is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 for a reason — a 75.44 rating and a 20% career win percentage put him squarely in the mix. Timothy Thornton keeps the mount for trainer Sturges J. Ducoing, and with an average speed figure of 55 matching the field's best, he should be finishing with energy in the late stages of this 6½-furlong trip.

show8Life Is a BanquetML 5/2

Life Is a Banquet is the second Brett A. Brinkman runner in the race, and trainers don't usually saddle two horses unless they like their chances with both. Her 64.84 rating is solid mid-tier for this group, and a 17% career win rate suggests she hits the board more than she misses — exactly what you want in a show play.

Race 2

10:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A five-furlong sprint that sets up as a potential pace duel with a clear form standout lurking just off it — the morning line favorite may not be the horse our numbers like best.

win3My Other HalfML 4/1

My Other Half tops the TrackWiz ratings in this field at 85.62, a significant margin over the 2/1 morning-line favorite. Jansen Melancon is in the irons for trainer Allen Landry, and Melancon's presence on the top-rated horse is a strong positive signal. At 4/1 on the morning line, there's real overlay value here — the numbers say she's the class of this field and the price hasn't adjusted for it.

place1Alyse ParkerML 6/1

Alyse Parker opens at 6/1 but carries a 73.16 rating that puts her second in this field, which is an interesting disconnect from the morning line. Anthony Arey trains her, and a 7% career win rate might look modest, but the speed and rating profile suggest she's better than her win numbers indicate — possibly a horse who runs well without winning, making her a natural place candidate.

show8It Ain't Like ThatML 3/1

It Ain't Like That draws the outside post and gets Elio J. Barrera up for trainer Juan Munoz Cano. A 69.02 rating and 12% career win rate are respectable for this level, and at 3/1 on the morning line, she's squarely on the public's radar. In a race where pace could get hot early over five furlongs, a closer with her rating profile is worth including in exacta and trifecta tickets.

Race 3

11:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

This one-mile claimer has a heavy morning-line favorite backed by dominant TrackWiz ratings — the question isn't who wins, it's whether the price is worth playing and who fills out the exotics.

win5RunninginthemoneyML 8/5

Runninginthemoney carries an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the highest number in today's entire early card — and a 26% career win rate that stands alone in this field. Timothy Thornton rides for trainer Antonio Alberto, and at 8/5 on the morning line, the public clearly agrees with the numbers. At a mile on dirt, a horse with this rating separation tends to deliver, even if the win price is modest.

place4Bigfoot SightingML 4/1

Bigfoot Sighting sits at 77.94 on our ratings and owns a 21% career win rate, making him the logical second choice in this race. Jose Luis Rodriguez takes the mount for trainer Cesar Govea, and at 4/1 morning line, there's decent place value here if you're not willing to take the short win price on the favorite. He looks like the horse most likely to give Runninginthemoney a race through the stretch.

show3Get Them JustinML 5/2

Get Them Justin is on the 5/2 morning line, which makes him arguably the second choice in the public's eye, but our 69.7 rating places him third behind the top two. Thomas L. Pompell rides for trainer Kearney Segura, and a 15% career win rate is workmanlike. He's worth including underneath in trifectas to round out the combination if the top two run their numbers.

The first three races set up as a nice warm-up act. Echo Down opens the card at a juicy 8/1 morning line in a 6½-furlong dirt claimer — that kind of price on a horse our ratings respect at 79.79 is worth a close look. Race 2 tightens up at 5 furlongs with My Other Half coming in as the top-rated runner at 85.62 and a reasonable 4/1 on the morning line. Then Race 3 is where things get serious: Runninginthemoney hits the gate at 8/5 for a one-mile dirt claimer with a TrackWiz rating of 89.12 — the highest of the free picks and one of the strongest numbers on the entire card.

With the heat baking the track surface all afternoon, early speed figures to be rewarded. Pay attention to post position and pace setup in these early sprints — the rail and inside posts have a way of paying dividends on days like this at Evangeline.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A full field of 13 going seven furlongs — with this much traffic, the pace scenario gets complicated fast, but there's a clear class edge at the top of the ratings if you can navigate the field.

win5Clearly MajesticML 4/1

Clearly Majestic owns the best TrackWiz rating in this 13-horse field at 85.62, paired with a 22% career win rate and the field's top average speed figure of 54. Thomas L. Pompell gets the call for trainer Raymond Prejean — Pompell is one of the busier and more capable jockeys on this circuit. At 4/1 morning line in a large field, this is a horse offering real value relative to what the numbers say about her ability.

place12Daddy's CodeML 5/2

Daddy's Code opens at 5/2 and brings a 71.03 rating with an 11% career win rate — solid credentials for a place consideration in a race this deep. Jansen Melancon rides for Randy Degeyter, Jr., which is a sharp jockey-trainer pairing worth noting. In big fields, horses with Melancon up tend to find the right trips, making Daddy's Code a reliable underneath play.

show13V CutML 8/1

V Cut is the sneaky play here at 8/1 on the morning line despite a 70.86 TrackWiz rating that's essentially tied with the place pick. Harry Hernandez rides for trainer Samuel Breaux, who also sends out Give Me a Try in this race — when a barn has multiple runners, it's worth noting which one got the better jockey assignment. V Cut's 15% career win rate and strong rating make the 8/1 price look generous for a show ticket.

Race 5

12:18 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

One-mile claiming race with a legit top two on the ratings sheet separated by just a few points — expect a competitive stretch run with a pace setup that could favor the closers.

win6Roll Gypsy RollML 9/5

Roll Gypsy Roll leads our ratings at 86.42 and draws favorable attention at 9/5 on the morning line — the public and the numbers are in rare agreement here. Juan P. Vargas rides for trainer Richard L. Mocklin, Jr., and a 12% career win rate in claiming ranks is respectable for the class. Over a one-mile distance, a horse at this rating level typically has enough class to control her own fate down the lane.

place4Hard SpiritsML 6/1

Hard Spirits is the value play in this race — an 82.71 rating that's nearly as strong as the top pick, but posted at 6/1 on the morning line. Elio J. Barrera picks up the mount for trainer Isai V. Gonzalez, and a 7% career win rate may understate this horse's competitiveness at the 1-mile distance. The gap between her rating and her morning line makes this a prime place overlay worth attacking in exactas.

show10Molto VinoML 3/1

Molto Vino carries a 73.82 rating and a 17% career win rate — both numbers that hold up well in this field. Carlos Perez rides for trainer John Bernard, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Molto Vino is near the top of the public's order. She's the logical third wheel in the trifecta if the two top-rated runners run their figures, with her experience at the distance adding confidence.

Race 6

12:46 AM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A competitive 5½-furlong sprint with multiple horses bunched in the high-70s to low-80s on the ratings — this is the kind of race where post position and early speed can make the difference.

win7Alvarado CatML 7/2

Alvarado Cat tops the field with an 82.65 TrackWiz rating and brings a 20% career win rate into a race where several horses are legitimately close. Timothy Thornton gets the mount for trainer Jonah Fuselier, and with a top average speed figure of 55 matching the best in the field, this horse projects to be competitive throughout the 5½-furlong distance. At 7/2 on the morning line, the value is fair rather than generous — but the numbers say he's the right horse.

place1HawijaML 8/1

Hawija is the sneaky angle in this race — an 79.79 rating from the rail post with Jansen Melancon up for trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. A 23% career win rate is one of the best in the field, and Melancon is excellent from the inside. The 8/1 morning line seems to undervalue what this horse brings statistically, making Hawija a genuine overlay for place money and exotic tickets.

show6Ocean JackpotML 5/2

Ocean Jackpot sits at 77.75 on our ratings with a 21% career win rate, posting solidly within the top tier of this field. Harry Hernandez rides for trainer Ronnie Averett, and a 5/2 morning line puts her near the top of the public's order. With a top average speed of 55, she should be in the thick of things in the stretch run and is a safe show anchor for trifecta construction.

Race 7

1:13 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

The lone turf race on the card — a one-mile claiming event on the grass where form can shift dramatically based on surface affinity, and our ratings reveal a horse the morning line is underestimating.

win4Glistening GalML 6/1

Glistening Gal leads all horses in this field with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating, yet she opens at 6/1 — well above the 5/2 morning-line choice. Jansen Melancon rides for trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr., a barn that's had success on this circuit. On turf, where pace scenarios often play out differently than dirt, a horse with this rating edge and a 10% career win rate who's been overlooked in the line is exactly the kind of play that builds bankrolls.

place2Bronze LegacyML 5/2

Bronze Legacy is the morning-line choice at 5/2 and backs it up with a 72.96 rating and a strong 20% career win rate. Timothy Thornton rides for trainer Sam B. David, Jr., the same barn as longshot Awree — David has two runners here, but Bronze Legacy clearly drew the stronger jockey assignment. On a one-mile turf course, a horse with this win percentage and a polished number has the profile to at least hit the board.

show1AwreeML 9/2

Awree is listed as the show pick at 9/2 on the morning line — a 56.93 rating puts him well off the top two, but Elio J. Barrera aboard a Sam B. David, Jr. barn runner is worth noting since the trainer clearly has confidence in both horses. A 6% career win rate suggests he's often competitive without finishing on top, which is precisely the profile you want from a show selection in a turf field where anything can happen.

Race 8

1:40 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The Allowance Optional Claiming feature is the classiest event of the day — a tighter, more talented field where the top two on our ratings are separated by less than 10 points and a true pace battle could develop.

win5Purple HeartML 5/2

Purple Heart tops the field at 87.81 and brings an elite 33% career win rate — in an allowance field, that kind of strike rate speaks to consistent quality. Emanuel Nieves gets the call for trainer Patti Turner, and a 5/2 morning line makes this one of the more solid overlays in the upper tier. With a 54 average speed figure and the highest rating on the board, Purple Heart is our confident top selection in the best race of the day.

place7Pretty FastML 2/1

Pretty Fast is the 2/1 morning-line choice and carries a 78.67 rating with a 21% career win rate — she's a legitimate contender who the market likes even more than we do. Elio J. Barrera rides for trainer Juan Munoz Cano, a pairing that appears twice on today's card. Her average speed figure of 55 is the co-best in this field, and if she gets a clean trip from the outside post, she's got the foot to make the top horse earn it.

show3GuanareML 7/2

Guanare brings a 68.99 rating and an impressive 25% career win rate at 7/2 on the morning line. Thomas L. Pompell rides for Keith G. Bourgeois, and with a 55 average speed figure tying the field's best, she shouldn't be far off the pace in a six-furlong sprint. In a race where the top two figure to battle it out, Guanare is the natural beneficiary if either falters — a logical show anchor and a key piece in trifecta tickets.

Race 9

2:07 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint with a 12-horse field and a standout on the ratings sheet — in maiden races, speed figures and workout patterns separate contenders from pretenders, and one filly towers above the rest.

win5Your LadyshipML 5/2

Your Ladyship leads all 12 runners with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the same figure as Race 8's top pick, which tells you how strongly she profiles. Carlos Perez takes the mount for trainer Samuel Breaux, who also sends Flora Bound in this race — and Perez drawing the better horse from Breaux's barn is a meaningful signal. In a maiden claimer where many runners have never won, a horse with a top average speed of 54 and this rating gap is a standout bet at 5/2.

place8Midnight CigaretteML 5/1

Midnight Cigarette opens at 5/1 and carries a 63.21 rating — second-best in the field and a solid platform for a place finish in a maiden sprint. Jose Nava-Marin rides for trainer Henry West, Jr., and a 53 average speed figure is competitive in this group. In maiden fields where the favorite often draws heavy attention, a 5/1 with the second-best rating profile is exactly where the place value lives.

show7Flora BoundML 7/2

Flora Bound is the second Samuel Breaux runner in the race, handled by Harry Hernandez, and at 7/2 she brings a 59.85 rating that slots in comfortably as the field's third-best. A 52 average speed figure is workmanlike, and Breaux clearly entered two horses here with a plan. The trainer's dual presence in this race is a confidence signal, and Flora Bound's rating supports a show ticket as part of any multi-horse trifecta structure.

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Bottom line: Runninginthemoney is the standout of the free picks and one of the most confident top ratings on today's full card. Echo Down offers sneaky value to open, and the premium half of this card — anchored by Purple Heart in Race 8 — has real meat on the bone for serious players. Full analysis, pace projections, and exotic ticket breakdowns are all waiting for subscribers. See you at the windows.

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