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Evangeline Picks & Predictions — August 29, 2026

August 29, 20269 racesAll Evangeline picks

Results are in — see the official Evangeline chart and payouts (our top pick won 4 of 9)→

It's a hot one at Evangeline Downs today — clear skies, 92°F, and a nine-race card that spans both the dirt and turf. That kind of heat in Louisiana can be a real factor, particularly for horses breaking from outside posts and those that figure to be on the lead early. Keep an eye on hydration angles and early pace burn as the afternoon wears on.

The card is a nice mix of conditions — claiming, maiden claiming, allowance, and allowance optional claiming — spread across distances ranging from a tight 5 furlongs on the turf all the way out to a two-turn mile on both surfaces. Whether you're looking to cash a single or build toward a pick-four ticket, there's plenty to work with today.

TrackWiz has full analysis locked and loaded for all nine races. Three races are free for everyone, and our top-rated horse on the entire card is Seeking Aces in Race 9, sitting at a morning line of 9/5 with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating. Premium subscribers get the complete breakdown — let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

10:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 1/2 fur · Turf

A wide-open turf opener at 7½ furlongs where our ratings reveal a clear top selection but several live mid-priced threats lurk beneath — pace dynamics on the green stuff could scramble the order late.

win6Bronze LegacyML 7/2

Bronze Legacy (6) stands head and shoulders above this field on TrackWiz ratings, checking in at 86.35 — a full 16 points clear of the next contender. Trainer Sam B. David, Jr. and jockey Timothy Thornton make for a reliable partnership, and the 7/2 morning line actually represents fair value given the rating gap. The 7½-furlong turf trip suits a horse that projects to settle off the pace and finish with authority.

place1Proton KittyML 4/1

Proton Kitty (1) rates second in this field at 70.1 and brings a respectable 14% career win rate to the table. Jockey Harry Hernandez gets the rail post, which on turf can be a ground-saving advantage, especially as the field fans out around the turn. At 4/1, there's solid each-way value here if Bronze Legacy hits the board.

show9OstricaML 8/1

Ostrica (9) comes in rated 66.8 with an average speed figure of 54 — tied for the best in the field alongside Ayzee. Trainer Justin Jeansonne has this one pointed right, and jockey Jansen Melancon has the experience to navigate a full turf field. At 8/1 on the morning line, Ostrica is a legitimate exotics inclusion for trifecta and superfecta players.

Race 2

10:57 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Maiden claiming dirt at 7 furlongs, and this one features a heavy top-rated horse that figures to be well bet down from the morning line — the intrigue is whether a couple of overlooked runners can crash the exacta.

win2FinitoML 2/1

Finito (2) tops our ratings at 88.54 — the highest mark in the field by a comfortable margin — and posts an average speed figure of 54, tied for best on the card. Trainer W. Bret Calhoun is a consistent presence at Evangeline, and Timothy Thornton in the irons keeps the connections sharp. The 2/1 morning line will likely tighten further, but the rating dominance justifies making Finito the clear top pick here.

place7Kisses for CooperML 10/1

Kisses for Cooper (7) is the sneaky value play in this maiden field, sporting a TrackWiz rating of 68.24 and drawing the underrated Jamison Mudd for the ride. That 10/1 morning line looks generous for a horse rated second in the field, and the 53 average speed figure is respectable. If Finito hits any trouble in traffic, Cooper is set up to collect the runner-up spot.

show3The Get OutML 6/1

The Get Out (3) rates third in this field at 63.62 and averages a 52 speed figure across the board. Trainer Juan C. Sanchez gives this runner a clear chance, and Carlos Perez is a capable hand. At 6/1, The Get Out is worth a small show investment and slots naturally into the trifecta bottom for those hunting a bigger ticket.

Race 3

11:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

This claiming sprint at 7 furlongs on dirt is unusually competitive — four horses are rated between 78 and 86, making this one of the tightest races on the card and a prime spot for exacta and trifecta players.

win6Kara FlashML 4/1

Kara Flash (6) leads all TrackWiz ratings in this field at 85.62 and posts one of the top average speed figures in the race at 54. Carlos Perez gets the mount for trainer Juan A. Larrosa, and despite a modest 5% career win rate, the horse's underlying figures suggest that number should improve. The 4/1 morning line makes Kara Flash a genuine best-bet value in what is a very competitive field.

place1Mo PumpkinML 5/2

Mo Pumpkin (1) is the morning-line favorite at 5/2 and rates second in the field at 82.72. Trainer Patrick Devereux, Jr. puts Colby J. Hernandez on the mount — a solid local booking — and the rail draw keeps ground-loss to a minimum on a 7-furlong dirt track. Mo Pumpkin projects as a pace presser that could collar Kara Flash late if the pace gets hot up front.

show3Lucky JuanML 6/1

Lucky Juan (3) sneaks in at 6/1 with a field-best 54 average speed figure and a TrackWiz rating of 81.86 — the third-best mark in the field. Trainer Brett A. Brinkman has been active at the meet, and Javier Antonio Hernandez is a competent rider who knows how to position a closer. This is the kind of horse that rewards trifecta players willing to use a live longshot in the three-hole.

Our three free best bets today hit across different surfaces and race types, giving you a solid foundation for the afternoon. Bronze Legacy opens the card on the turf at 7/2, and the turf course at Evangeline figures to be playing true on a dry, sunny day like this — no moisture to complicate matters. In Race 2, Finito comes in as the morning-line favorite at 2/1 in a maiden claiming sprint, posting the highest TrackWiz rating of the three free picks at 88.54. And Kara Flash at 4/1 in Race 3 offers a touch of value if she gets the right pace scenario in another 7-furlong dirt sprint.

A common thread across the early races: with temperatures pushing into the low 90s, horses that can rate just off the pace rather than dueling on the front end have a structural edge. That pace-stalking profile is worth factoring into your play on all three free races, and it carries into the premium card as well.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A premium-content claiming race at 6½ furlongs where the favorite has a big ratings edge, but a pair of well-positioned closers could make this exacta more interesting than the morning line suggests.

win3WholelottadealML 9/5

Wholelottadeal (3) sits at the top of our TrackWiz ratings at 88.83 — the highest mark in this field — and backs it up with a 54 average speed figure and a 16% career win rate, the best among the serious contenders. Trainer Jerry Delhomme sends out what looks like a fit, peaking horse, and Timothy Thornton has been one of the more productive riders at this meet. The 9/5 morning line will likely hold or shorten, but the numbers make this a clear top selection regardless of price.

place5Zip AroundML 7/2

Zip Around (5) rates second in the field at 79.39 and brings a 14% career win rate that speaks to real ability in these conditions. Trainer Joe O. Duhon teams with Elio J. Barrera, and the 7/2 morning line gives you some breathing room on an each-way play. With a 53 average speed figure, Zip Around profiles as a closer who benefits if Wholelottadeal takes them through a fast early pace.

show2GomarkgoML 3/1

Gomarkgo (2) checks in with a solid 73.53 TrackWiz rating and the best average speed figure in the race at 54, matching Wholelottadeal. Kelvin Arana has shown the ability to rate horses in sprints, which could be key here. At 3/1 on the morning line, the show price won't be juicy, but Gomarkgo is a must-use in exactas and trifectas given the underlying numbers.

Race 5

12:18 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Going a flat mile on dirt, this claiming field has a dominant figure at the top but a trio of mid-field horses with solid speed numbers that could create a legitimate pace scenario heading into the stretch.

win1You GoodML 2/1

You Good (1) is the class of this field according to TrackWiz, rating at 88.54 — the same top-line number as Race 2's Finito, which is high-end for a Saturday night card. The 23% career win rate is the best among contenders with real ratings, and Isaac Castillo has the experience to manage the added distance of a mile. Trainer Sam B. David, Jr. has horses running well at Evangeline, and the 2/1 morning line, while short, reflects a genuine contender.

place9Crimson StormML 9/2

Crimson Storm (9) rates second in the field at 72.59 and goes with Jose Luis Rodriguez, one of the more active jockeys in the Louisiana circuit. The 9/2 morning line gives you solid each-way value for a horse that profiles as a pace presser capable of hanging around for the place. At 11% career win rate in a field this deep, Crimson Storm is an easy include in multi-race exotics.

show5Order UpML 10/1

Order Up (5) comes in rated 70.72 and boasts a 14% career win rate that suggests consistent ability to compete at this level. Jansen Melancon is a reliable guide for trainer Allen Landry, who has two runners in this race and clearly likes the spot. At 10/1 on the morning line, Order Up represents genuine show value and makes sense in the bottom of a trifecta or superfecta.

Race 6

12:46 AM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Turf

An allowance mile on turf with a full field of 11, and the pace scenario sets up perfectly for closers — TrackWiz ratings separate two clear contenders from the rest, but there's enough pace in here to keep things honest.

win5Same PlayML 7/2

Same Play (5) leads all TrackWiz ratings in this allowance field at 86.35, and Jansen Melancon is exactly the kind of patient turf pilot you want aboard in a 11-horse mile on the green. Trainer Allen Landry, who also saddles Fulla Wicked Sugar in Race 7, is operating at a high level. The 7/2 morning line is fair value for a horse that rates well above the field and has a turf pace setup that should suit a come-from-behind style.

place6Cool GuitarML 3/1

Cool Guitar (6) rates second in this field at 79.46, and with a 54 average speed figure, figures to show real turn-of-foot on turf. Trainer Antonio Alberto runs two horses today, and this one gets Javier Antonio Hernandez — a capable handler for a full mile on grass. At 3/1 on the morning line, Cool Guitar is a legitimate contender who should earn a check if Same Play runs its race.

show9Pocketful of MoneyML 6/1

Pocketful of Money (9) sneaks into the show spot with a 60.59 rating and an 18% career win rate, which is notable in an allowance field. C.J. McMahon gets the mount, and while the 51 average speed figure is the lowest among the top three picks, turf miles can be more about trip and positioning than raw figures. At 6/1, this is a fair price for a horse that could benefit from pace pressure up front.

Race 7

1:13 AM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs on dirt at the allowance level, and the TrackWiz ratings tell a fascinating story — the top pick is a double-digit morning-line price that our model significantly prefers over the chalk, setting up potential big-ticket value.

win8Wickedly RoyalML 15/1

Wickedly Royal (8) is the headline play of the race, rating at 69.58 in a field where the 5/2 morning-line favorite Majestic Rags checks in at only 46.43. The 25% career win rate is strong, and Jamison Mudd is an excellent partner for trainer Jervon Broussard, who has been consistent at this meet. The 15/1 morning line looks like a significant overlay based on TrackWiz analysis — this is the kind of price discrepancy that makes for a legitimate longshot win bet.

place5Bulletproof BessML 9/2

Bulletproof Bess (5) rates second in the field at 59.03 and flashes a remarkable 33% career win rate — one of the highest on the card today. Shane Wilson trains a horse that Harry Hernandez will aim to position early in this sprint, and the 9/2 morning line is workable for an each-way play. If the pace gets hot up front, Bess has the win percentage to suggest she knows how to close a deal.

show9Mika Ella PikaML 7/2

Mika Ella Pika (9) comes in rated 56.87 with an 18% career win rate and one of the top average speed figures in the race at 55. Juan P. Vargas for trainer John Ney is a straightforward booking, and at 7/2 on the morning line, this is the kind of solid third option that completes the trifecta box. If Wickedly Royal fires at a big number, having Mika Ella Pika underneath makes for a potentially lucrative ticket.

Race 8

1:40 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A short 5-furlong sprint on turf under allowance optional claiming conditions — these quick turf dashes often favor horses with elite raw speed, and the ratings here reveal a clear top two with a fascinating value play lurking below them.

win2Double SaltyML 3/1

Double Salty (2) is the standout of this field, rating at 87.08 — second-highest on today's card — and backing it up with a 56 average speed figure that matches the best in the race. The 42% career win rate is extraordinary; this horse simply knows how to get to the wire first. Jansen Melancon pilots for trainer Allen Landry, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Double Salty is a genuine best-bet contender in what figures to be a fast-paced turf sprint.

place4Prodigy ParadiseML 4/1

Prodigy Paradise (4) rates second in the field at 81.28 and also posts a 56 average speed figure — the joint-best mark in the race. Harry Hernandez for trainer Shane Wilson gives this one a capable front-running option, and the 4/1 morning line is solid value for a horse that could push Double Salty all the way to the wire. In a 5-furlong turf sprint, gate speed is crucial, and Prodigy Paradise has the figures to suggest it can keep up through the early fractions.

show7Sassi DML 5/2

Sassi D (7) rates third in the field at 69.65 and leads all horses with a 57 average speed figure — the highest single speed number on the entire card. Trainer Lee Thomas uses Jose Luis Rodriguez, and the 5/2 morning line suggests the public may actually be underrating Double Salty and overrating Sassi D — which makes the top two even more appealing. Still, at that speed figure, Sassi D is a must-use underneath in any exotic ticket for this sprint.

Race 9

2:07 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The finale is a 7-furlong maiden claiming dirt race with a 12-horse field and a dominant top-rated horse — the real question is which live longshot can sneak into the exotics behind a probable short-priced winner.

win1Seeking AcesML 9/5

Seeking Aces (1) tops this maiden field with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — the same top-line figure as Wholelottadeal in Race 4 — and Harry Hernandez for trainer Ronnie Averett is a sharp combination. The 9/5 morning line will likely compress further once betting opens, but the rating separation is significant enough that the short price is justified. In a wide-open maiden field of 12, having the horse with the clearest advantage makes this a straightforward top selection.

place4King JulesML 4/1

King Jules (4) rates second in the field at 67.16 and posts a 53 average speed figure — among the best in this maiden group. Elio J. Barrera for trainer Juan Munoz Cano gets a horse that may be ready to break through in a field where most rivals are still searching for their first win. At 4/1 on the morning line, King Jules represents genuine place value and belongs in every exacta underneath Seeking Aces.

show5Make Me a DealML 12/1

Make Me a Deal (5) is the value play of the closing race, rating 64.15 — third in the field — off a 12/1 morning line that looks far too big given the underlying numbers. Thomas L. Pompell gets the mount for trainer Randy Shamsie, Sr., and with a 52 average speed figure, this runner figures to be competitive through the stretch of a 7-furlong maiden test. If you're building a trifecta or superfecta in the finale, Make Me a Deal at double-digit odds is exactly the kind of horse that can inflate a payout.

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Bottom line: Bronze Legacy, Finito, and Kara Flash are your free best bets to get you started today. The premium card is where the real money is hiding — Wickedly Royal at 15/1 and a pace-scenario edge in the turf routes are not to be missed. Subscribe at TrackWiz Premium to get the full nine-race breakdown before post time. Good luck out there — stay cool and cash something.

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