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Evangeline Picks & Predictions — May 28, 2026

May 28, 20268 racesAll Evangeline picks

This card ran on May 28, 2026.

Best bets at Evangeline, May 28, 2026

Race 16Sassi RoyalML 2/16:15 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

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Last 30 days at Evangeline: our top pick won 13 of 56 races (23%) and finished in the money in 36.

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Happy Thursday from Evangeline Downs, where the Louisiana heat is getting a good soaking today — rain is falling and temps are sitting at 81°F. That wet weather is going to be a major storyline throughout this 8-race card, particularly on the dirt, where a rain-affected track can completely scramble the pace picture and reward horses with the right running style.

Worth flagging right away: Race 1 goes on the turf, and with rain in the air, keep a close eye on any potential surface switch before post time. The remaining seven races are all on the dirt, where the footing figures to be sloppy or at minimum good-and-wet by the time the later races roll around. Bias watch is officially on.

Today's card is a solid mix of maiden claimers, straight claimers, and a Allowance Optional Claiming sprint to close things out — nothing graded, but plenty of angles to attack. TrackWiz has you covered on all 8 races.

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Race 1

6:15 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A maiden claimer on the turf with a heavy favorite standing head and shoulders above the field on TrackWiz ratings — but maiden turf sprints can be chaotic, and there's a cluster of similar types lurking just below.

win6Sassi RoyalML 2/1

Sassi Royal is the clear class of this field according to our ratings, posting an 88.54 — more than 30 points clear of the next competitor. She shows a 55 average speed figure, best among horses with recorded figures in the race, and trainer Lee Thomas saddles her alongside stablemate Diodorus, suggesting confidence in the barn. The 2/1 morning line makes her the obvious public choice, but the figure gap here is too wide to argue against — she's our top selection.

place5My TouchML 7/2

My Touch checks in with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating and a 53 average speed figure, putting her firmly in the second tier of this field. Trainer Keith G. Bourgeois sends her out with Juan P. Vargas in the irons, a recognizable local combination, and she figures to be on or near the pace in this 5-furlong turf sprint.

show4DiodorusML 4/1

Diodorus edges My Touch slightly on average speed figure at 54 and shares trainer Lee Thomas with the top pick — that barn clearly entered two live horses here. At 4/1 on the morning line, he's a reasonable exotics anchor for a race where the pace could shake things up in the final furlong.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:42 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile dirt claimer where two horses have separated themselves from the pack on ratings, setting up what looks like a battle between a top-rated closer and a solid pace presser — but Knocked Out's standout 35% career win rate adds a wrinkle worth noting.

win6Roll Gypsy RollML 3/1

Roll Gypsy Roll tops this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and is trained by Richard L. Mocklin, Jr., who sends him out with C.J. McMahon aboard. His 52 average speed figure matches the field's best, and at 3/1 on the morning line, he offers fair value relative to his rating advantage. Over a one-mile route on dirt, consistent horses tend to sort themselves out late, and our analysis has Roll Gypsy Roll as the horse to beat.

place3Im Singled UpML 5/2

Im Singled Up sits at 75.31 on the TrackWiz scale with a matching 52 average speed figure and goes with trainer Antonio Alberto and Harry Hernandez up. His 14% career win rate is respectable in a field like this, and at 5/2 on the morning line, he's installed as the public second choice — he should be grinding toward the lead throughout and is a natural place candidate.

show5Knocked OutML 4/1

Knocked Out may be the most interesting piece of this puzzle — his 35% career win rate is the highest in the race by a wide margin, meaning when he's right, he wins. His 67.5 rating trails the top two, but a 4/1 morning line price offers some overlay value in the exotics, particularly for trifecta construction.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

The first three races are on the house. Race 1 kicks things off on the turf with Sassi Royal drawing our top rating at 88.54 — the highest score among the free picks — off a 2/1 morning line that suggests the market agrees. If this one stays on the grass in the wet, it gets more interesting, not less. Then we shift to the dirt for a pair of claiming sprints and routes where Roll Gypsy Roll (Race 2, 1 mile) and Beamer (Race 3, 6½ furlongs) both check in with matching 87.08 ratings at 3/1 on the morning line.

The connecting thread across these three free races is pace — on a wet track, early speed can either wire the field or come back to the closers depending on how deep the kick is. All three of our top picks here profile as horses capable of rating off the pace, which is exactly the style you want to back when the ground gets soft and the frontrunners are grinding through slop. Solid spot to open your card.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:09 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open 12-horse claiming field at 6½ furlongs on dirt — Beamer stands out as a clear top selection, but mid-pack there's a tight cluster of five horses within five rating points of each other, making the underneath spots genuinely competitive.

win7BeamerML 3/1

Beamer brings the best package in this field — an 87.08 TrackWiz rating, a 55 average speed figure (tops in the field), and a 26% career win rate that says he closes the deal when he belongs. Trainer Jervon Broussard sends him out with Jamison Mudd, and at 3/1 on the morning line, there's no need to overthink this one. That 55 speed figure is a full point better than anyone else here, and in a 6½-furlong sprint on dirt, raw speed often tells the story.

place3Madelyn's HitML 5/1

Madelyn's Hit pairs a 71.73 rating with a 54 average speed figure and a 20% career win rate — she's consistent and capable. Trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. puts Jansen Melancon on board, and at 5/1 on the morning line, she represents genuine value in the exacta and trifecta slots against this field.

show4Uno PeaML 4/1

Uno Pea shows a 28% career win rate — second-best in this race — and carries a 70.26 rating with a 51 average speed figure. Trainer Juan Munoz Cano also enters Front and Silver in this same race, but Uno Pea's superior rating and win percentage make him the preferred stable runner for our analysis. At 4/1, he's a fair price to round out the exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 4

7:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

This 13-horse mile-long claimer on dirt is top-heavy — Runforjustice has a massive rating advantage at the top — but with this many horses entered, traffic and pace dynamics over a route could create chaos in the stretch.

win6RunforjusticeML 2/1

Runforjustice is the standout in this big field, carrying an 88.54 TrackWiz rating with a 20% career win rate and a 53 average speed figure. Trainer Eduardo Ramirez sends him out with Javier Antonio Hernandez, and at 2/1 on the morning line, he's clearly respected by the oddsmakers. In a 13-horse field over a mile, the 20% career win rate gains added significance — this horse knows how to finish, and our rating margin here is substantial.

place3Tap the TequilaML 9/2

Tap the Tequila rates at 73.08 — second-best in this field — and checks in with a 53 average speed figure and a 9% career win rate. Isaac Castillo rides for trainer Scott Gelner, and at 9/2 on the morning line, he's the natural second choice if Runforjustice gets beaten. A horse with his ratings profile in a 13-horse field is a logical place key in multi-race wagers.

show11Cut DayML 5/1

Cut Day comes in at 70.98 on the rating scale with a 52 average speed figure and a solid 22% career win rate — that win percentage is a real marker. Joel Dominguez rides for Juan A. Larrosa, and at 5/1, there's overlay potential here for trifecta builders who want a live third horse with proven closing ability.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 5

8:03 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A sharp five-furlong dirt dash where Destiny's Grace heads the TrackWiz figures but Golden Barcents and Crusin Like a Cat make this a legitimate three-horse race — pace will be hot early and the first furlong could determine everything.

win3Destiny's GraceML 3/1

Destiny's Grace posts an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — tops in the field — and shows a 54 average speed figure with a 15% career win rate. Trainer Juan A. Larrosa sends her with Juan P. Vargas, and at 3/1 on the morning line, she sits as the second betting choice despite having the highest rating. In a 5-furlong sprint on dirt, that 54 speed figure is exactly what you want — she gets our top spot.

place5Golden BarcentsML 5/1

Golden Barcents is the value piece of this race at 5/1 on the morning line — a 74.98 rating and a 54 average speed figure to go with a 23% career win rate, which is the best win percentage in the field. Trainer Jervon Broussard and Jamison Mudd are a local combination worth following, and that win rate says this horse has a knack for getting the job done.

show2Crusin Like a CatML 4/1

Crusin Like a Cat rounds out our top three with a 72.31 TrackWiz rating and a 53 average speed figure. He goes at 4/1 with Harry Hernandez up for Eduardo Ramirez — who also trains the top pick — giving this barn a strong two-horse presence in the race. A 19% career win rate adds credibility to his show candidacy in what figures to be a fast pace scenario.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

8:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

A maiden special weight mile on dirt that flips the morning line on its head — our top-rated horse is not the morning-line favorite, giving Ocean's Appeal potential overlay value against a well-bred public choice.

win2Ocean's AppealML 5/2

Ocean's Appeal carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81, despite being installed at 5/2 on the morning line behind Grand Windfall. Trainer Randy J. Ellis teams with Javier Antonio Hernandez, and Ocean's Appeal shows a 54 average speed figure — matching the best in the race. In a maiden special weight field where no horse has a win on their card, the rating edge here is meaningful and our analysis puts Ocean's Appeal clearly on top.

place1Grand WindfallML 9/5

Grand Windfall is the public's 9/5 morning-line choice, trained by W. Bret Calhoun — a respected name — and shows a 54 average speed figure matching Ocean's Appeal. His 76.61 rating places him firmly second in our rankings, and at a likely even-money price, he's a natural place option even if Ocean's Appeal edges him at the wire.

show7Proton KittyML 4/1

Proton Kitty sits third in our ratings at 72.86 with a 52 average speed figure and a 4/1 morning line — giving him a bit of overlay value relative to his position in the pecking order. Trainer Brett A. Brinkman saddles him with Thomas L. Pompell, and in a maiden field where upsets are always lurking, he's a sensible trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

8:57 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming sprint at five furlongs where Double Salty and Hms Diamond figure to duel for supremacy — but Wholelottadeal's eye-catching 50% career win rate is impossible to ignore, even at 9/2.

win5Double SaltyML 3/1

Double Salty earns the top spot with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating, a 54 average speed figure, and a 25% career win rate. Trainer Allen Landry sends him out with Jansen Melancon in the irons, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the price is reasonable for the top-rated horse in an allowance field. At five furlongs, this type of speed figure advantage often translates directly to a front-running or pace-pressing trip that's hard to overcome.

place7Hms DiamondML 2/1

Hms Diamond is not far behind at 84.52 on the TrackWiz scale, with a 55 average speed figure — actually tied for best in the race — and a 25% career win rate. Trainer Shane Wilson uses Isaac Castillo at 2/1, making him the morning-line favorite. The slight gap between his rating and Double Salty's makes him a natural place horse, and his speed figure profile suggests he'll be competitive right to the wire.

show6Mingling MoML 8/1

Mingling Mo checks in at 60.91 on our ratings — a clear tier below the top two — but at 8/1 on the morning line, he offers trifecta value in what could be a pace-heavy race. Trainer Ronnie P. Ward and Carlos Perez team up, and his 54 average speed figure says he's physically capable of running with this group. When the top two horses are closely matched, a well-placed closer can pick up the pieces.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

9:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A five-furlong dirt claimer where the morning-line favorite isn't the top-rated horse — Shining Away leads our analysis despite going off at 3/1, while No Deductible's 33% career win rate makes the exacta combination intriguing.

win8Shining AwayML 3/1

Shining Away tops this field at 80.60 on the TrackWiz scale and goes at 3/1 with Isaac Castillo for trainer Juan A. Larrosa. His 53 average speed figure puts him in the mix on pure ability, and while his 6% career win rate is the lowest among our top picks, it's worth noting that the rating metric captures more than just past wins. At 3/1, the public respects him, and our analysis concurs — he's the top selection.

place7No DeductibleML 8/1

No Deductible is one of the more compelling horses on the card today — an 8/1 morning line price on a horse with a 33% career win rate and a 79.79 TrackWiz rating is worth a look. Trainer Carl J. Woodley sends him out with Jamison Mudd, and if the pace sets up right over five furlongs of dirt, a horse who wins a third of his starts can absolutely go gate-to-wire or close with authority.

show2One Sweet DealML 2/1

One Sweet Deal is installed as the 2/1 morning-line favorite despite our ratings placing her third, which means the public sees something they like. She shows a 54 average speed figure — tied for best in the race — and a 72.73 TrackWiz rating. Trainer Anthony Arey uses Jansen Melancon, and even if she gets beat at a short price, a 10% career win rate on this type of horse means she'll be competitive enough to fill out the show spot in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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Eight races, a wet track, and some genuine angles across the full card — today at Evangeline Downs is worth your attention. Sassi Royal in Race 1 is our top-rated play of the free card, and the dirt trio that follows is worth structuring into a small early Pick 3. For the back half of the card including pace projections, exotic plays, and our full premium ratings on Races 4–8, subscribe to TrackWiz and get every angle we've got. Good luck out there — and watch that weather wire before you finalize any turf bets.

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