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Evangeline Picks & Predictions — June 25, 2026

June 25, 20268 racesAll Evangeline picks

This card ran on June 25, 2026.

Best bets at Evangeline, June 25, 2026

Race 13Too Many TitosML 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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It's a scorcher out at Evangeline Downs today — clear skies and 91°F mean the Louisiana heat is sitting heavy on horses and horseplayers alike. Eight races are on tap, mixing maiden claimers, straight claimers, and allowance company across both dirt and turf surfaces. That sun-baked main track and a lively turf course set up some interesting pace scenarios worth paying attention to.

The card has a nice spread of conditions — we've got speed-favoring short sprints at five furlongs, a pair of 6½-furlong dirt routes where stamina gets tested, and three turf dashes that could play out very differently depending on how the grass is riding this afternoon. In other words, there's something for every handicapper here, whether you're grinding exotics or hunting a single win bet.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all eight races. Three are open to everyone — including a couple of 2/1 morning-line favorites we're on board with and one compelling 8/1 longshot angle that caught our eye.

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Race 1

6:15 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden claimer on the Evangeline turf sprint, but one horse grades out well above the field — the question is whether the morning-line favorite can live up to a dominant TrackWiz rating in a maiden field full of unknowns.

win3Too Many TitosML 2/1

Too Many Titos (3) is the clear standout here by our ratings, posting an 88.54 — more than 30 points clear of the second-ranked horse in the field. Trainer Jayde J. Gelner sends this one out at the morning-line favorite of 2/1, a number that reflects the horse's strong form profile heading into this 5-furlong turf sprint. Jockey Colby J. Hernandez gets the call, and the average speed figure of 54 ties for the top of the field. In maiden company, that kind of rating separation is hard to ignore.

place7PhchampagnejourneyML 3/1

Phchampagnejourney (7) rates second in the field at 56.67 and comes in at 3/1 on the morning line, making it a natural place contender behind the top choice. Trainer Shelton J. Zenon, Sr. sends this one out with Javier Antonio Hernandez in the irons, and the horse's average speed figure of 54 keeps it competitive in this short turf sprint. If Too Many Titos does anything wrong early, Phchampagnejourney has the profile to pick up the pieces.

show4PericlesML 4/1

Pericles (4) posts a solid 55.00 TrackWiz rating for trainer Lee Thomas and sits at 4/1 on the morning line, representing fair value in a field where no horse has yet found the winner's circle. No average speed figure is available, which adds some uncertainty, but the overall rating slots this one neatly into the show position behind the top two. Lee Thomas also saddles Diodorus in this race, giving the barn a two-horse presence that could influence pace and positioning.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:42 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Jamesy's Empire looks like the class of this dirt claiming field and is clearly the one to beat, but Seizethedaydude's eye-catching career win rate injects some intrigue into the exacta and trifecta.

win6Jamesy's EmpireML 2/1

Jamesy's Empire (6) leads this field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — well clear of the competition — and comes in at the 2/1 morning-line favorite under jockey Carlos Perez for trainer Brett A. Brinkman. A 20% career win rate provides a solid baseline, and an average speed figure of 53 is consistent with what this field is producing. At 6½ furlongs on the dirt, this horse has the profile of a reliable front-runner or stalker who can put this field away.

place1Daddy's CodeML 5/2

Daddy's Code (1) rates second in the field at 69.81 and gets Jansen Melancon — one of Evangeline's more capable riders — for trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. The 11% career win rate is modest, but this horse has shown enough consistency to land on the board at 5/2. If the pace gets hot early, Daddy's Code figures to have enough left in the tank to hold for the place spot.

show4SeizethedaydudeML 5/1

Seizethedaydude (4) is the one that catches the eye in the win column — a 33% career win rate is the highest in the field and nearly triples the win rate of our top pick. The TrackWiz rating of 65.31 and a 5/1 morning line suggest there's value here, especially in show and exotic plays. Colby J. Hernandez takes the mount for trainer David Terre, and at those odds, this one is worth including underneath.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Our three free races today feature some genuinely interesting angles. Too Many Titos opens the card on the turf in a maiden claimer and draws top billing at 2/1 — a horse we like with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, one of the highest marks on the card. Jamesy's Empire carries that same 88.54 rating into Race 2 on the dirt, and with 6½ furlongs to run, pace will matter — keep an eye on who's controlling the early fractions. But the most intriguing free pick? Daddy's Gift in Race 3, sitting at 8/1 on the morning line with a 79.79 rating. Don't let that number scare you — in a short five-furlong dirt sprint, value at double digits can flip a good day into a great one fast.

One broader theme connecting these free picks: the heat and firm conditions today tend to reward horses who break alertly and avoid traffic trouble. Five-furlong sprints on a fast track can be won in the first few jumps, so post position and early speed are extra relevant in Races 1 and 3. We'll dig into exactly how that sets up in the full race analyses below.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:09 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

This ten-horse dirt sprint at 5 furlongs has a legit pace battle brewing, but the top two picks are sitting at overlooked odds — good news for anyone willing to go against the chalk.

win8Daddy's GiftML 8/1

Daddy's Gift (8) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 and comes in at a generous 8/1 on the morning line, making this the best value play of the early card. A 25% career win rate is among the strongest in the field, and the average speed figure of 56 is the highest in the race outright. Trainer Eduardo Ramirez sends this one out with Harry Hernandez aboard, and at 5 furlongs on the dirt, the raw speed advantage here is real.

place7PasketeeML 10/1

Pasketee (7) rates second in the field at 70.45 and brings a career win rate of 30% — the second-highest in the field — while sitting at 10/1 on the morning line. Trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. has C.J. McMahon in the irons, and the average speed figure of 55 matches the top tier of this field. If Daddy's Gift gets to the front and controls the pace, Pasketee looks like a natural to run second at a price that makes exotics very attractive.

show9Alvarado CatML 5/1

Alvarado Cat (9) rounds out our top three at a rating of 69.47, good for third-best in the field, and returns at 5/1 on the morning line. Jockey Devin H. Magnon gets the call for trainer Jonah Fuselier, and the 55 average speed figure puts this horse right in the mix on raw numbers. The 19% career win rate is consistent without being flashy, and this horse should be a steady presence in the show position.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 4

7:36 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A competitive allowance field at 6 furlongs on the dirt, with three horses clustered near the top of the ratings and a couple of long shots — including one with a remarkable win rate — lurking in the mix.

win2Princess Is OliviaML 2/1

Princess Is Olivia (2) leads the field with a TrackWiz rating of 86.57 and a 27% career win rate — the second-highest in the field among horses with meaningful samples. Jockey C.J. McMahon handles the mount for trainer Juan Munoz Cano, and the average speed figure of 56 is the highest of any horse we're recommending. At 2/1 on the morning line, this one is deservedly the favorite and has the profile to wire this allowance field.

place3NappingML 9/2

Napping (3) rates just a tick behind the top choice at 84.90, making this one of the tighter 1-2 gaps on the card — these two are closely matched. A 20% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55 keep Napping competitive, and trainer Shane Wilson sends this one out with Isaac Castillo at 9/2. If Princess Is Olivia faces any trouble in the early going, Napping has the rating and the class to be right there at the wire.

show6Miss MaximusML 5/1

Miss Maximus (6) rates third in the field at 78.65 and is one of the more intriguing horses on the ticket at 5/1 on the morning line. Trainer Sturges J. Ducoing gives the mount to Colby J. Hernandez, and the 21% career win rate speaks to a horse that knows how to compete. The average speed figure of 55 matches several rivals here, and this one is solid enough to fill out the show ticket in a race that looks like it could come back to the field.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

8:03 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 fur · Turf

A full field of 13 goes in this 5-furlong allowance turf sprint, and the TrackWiz model is pointing toward an overlay — our win pick is 10/1 on the morning line despite owning the top rating in the race.

win13TakeittothehouseML 10/1

Takeittothehouse (13) leads this large field with a TrackWiz rating of 76.88 despite being listed at 10/1 on the morning line — that's a meaningful disconnect between the public's perception and our analysis. A 20% career win rate is consistent with a horse that shows up regularly, and the trainer-jockey combination of Eduardo Ramirez and Harry Hernandez connects this horse to a barn with multiple runners in this race. At 5 furlongs on turf with a big field, a closer off the pace could get an ideal trip, and Takeittothehouse fits that profile.

place6Majestic RagsML 3/1

Majestic Rags (6) rates second in the field at 69.66 and comes in at 3/1 on the morning line — the second choice in the betting despite a somewhat modest 8% career win rate. Trainer Juan A. Larrosa has Javier Antonio Hernandez aboard, and the 53 average speed figure puts this one in line with the competitive tier of this large field. The low win rate is a flag, but the rating suggests consistent form and a horse that should be competitive even if it doesn't always close things out.

show1Diamond EmpressML 6/1

Diamond Empress (1) rates third in the field at 66.74 and shows a 21% career win rate, which is among the better figures in this deep allowance field. Trainer Cesar Govea sends this one out at 6/1 with Kevin Roman aboard, and the average speed figure of 56 ties for the top of the field. Breaking from the rail in a full field of 13 is never easy, but the speed and the rating are legitimate — this one is a solid show play and worth including in your exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 6

8:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Julia's Warrior looks like the class of this 6½-furlong dirt claimer but isn't the morning-line favorite — an appealing value angle for anyone looking for a win price with legitimate upside.

win2Julia's WarriorML 6/1

Julia's Warrior (2) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 and brings a strong 23% career win rate to the table, yet comes in at 6/1 on the morning line while Mahoney Road is being made the 5/2 favorite. Trainer Juan A. Larrosa sends this one out with Harry Hernandez, and the average speed figure of 54 is competitive. At 6½ furlongs on the dirt, this horse has the profile of a closer that can let others set the pace and pounce in the stretch.

place3KnockalittlelouderML 4/1

Knockalittlelouder (3) rates second in the field at 75.75 and sits at 4/1 on the morning line under Isaac Castillo for trainer John Ney. A 20% career win rate is respectable in a claiming field, and the 53 average speed figure is in line with the competitive tier here. This one looks like a natural place contender — solid enough to be on the board, and at those odds, worth including in your exactas.

show9Mahoney RoadML 5/2

Mahoney Road (9) is the public's choice at 5/2 but ranks third in our ratings at 65.13 — that's a notable divergence worth acknowledging. Carlos Perez takes the mount for trainer Juan Munoz Cano, and the 15% career win rate and 54 average speed figure suggest a capable but not dominant horse. If you're playing the trifecta, keeping Mahoney Road in third is a reasonable hedge given the public support.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 7

8:57 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

She's a Live Wire hits the turf sprint with the field's top rating and a career win rate that backs it up, but Bayou Bertie and Gangster Flash bring their own eye-catching numbers into what should be a fast and competitive allowance optional claimer.

win5She's a Live WireML 3/1

She's a Live Wire (5) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and backs it up with a 37% career win rate — easily one of the strongest profiles on today's full card. Trainer Shane Wilson and jockey Harry Hernandez team up here, and the average speed figure of 57 is the highest of any horse in the race. At 3/1 on the morning line, the public has a reasonable read on this one, but the combination of top raw speed and elite win rate makes this the play in a turf sprint.

place8Bayou BertieML 4/1

Bayou Bertie (8) rates second in the field at 79.94 and flashes a 33% career win rate, coming in at 4/1 for trainer Alan Klanfer with C.J. McMahon up. The average speed figure of 57 matches the top horse in the field, making this one of the closest pace matchups on the card. If She's a Live Wire gets into any kind of trouble, Bayou Bertie has the raw ability to beat her outright — and at 4/1, the place price should be good.

show1Bet TowinitML 2/1

Bet Towinit (1) rates third in the field at 76.13 and gets trainer Allen Landry paired with Thomas L. Pompell at the morning-line favorite price of 2/1 — an interesting dynamic where our show pick is the public's top choice. A 17% career win rate and average speed figure of 56 are solid but trail the top two horses here. The value in using Bet Towinit in the show spot is that the public money should keep the win odds compressed, freeing up better prices elsewhere in your exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

9:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden claimer on the dirt where She's Wild Again carries a dominant TrackWiz rating into what looks like a wide-open field — but with zero career wins across the board, anything can happen.

win7She's Wild AgainML 2/1

She's Wild Again (7) tops this maiden field by a wide margin with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — the same elite score our model gave to top picks in Races 1 and 2. Trainer Juan A. Larrosa sends this one out at 2/1 on the morning line with Julio Ramirez, Jr. in the irons. In maiden company, rating separation of this magnitude is meaningful, and while the 52 average speed figure is on the modest side, the overall profile makes this horse the clear standout.

place6Lee CircleML 5/2

Lee Circle (6) rates second in the field at 57.50 for trainer Lee Thomas — a barn that already has runners on today's card — and comes in at 5/2 with Thomas L. Pompell aboard. No average speed figure is listed, which introduces some uncertainty, but the rating is clearly the second-best in the race, and the morning-line odds suggest the connections are reasonably confident. This one makes plenty of sense underneath She's Wild Again in the exacta.

show4Global DawnML 5/1

Global Dawn (4) rates third in this maiden field at 53.33 and comes in at 5/1 on the morning line for trainer Scott Gelner with Elio J. Barrera taking the mount. Like Lee Circle, no average speed figure is available, which is a slight concern, but the rating of 53.33 outpaces the rest of the field outside the top two. At 5/1 in a maiden race where anything can unfold, this one is a reasonable show play and a worthy trifecta piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

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Bottom line: Evangeline's eight-race card on June 25 offers genuine opportunity across the board — from the bankable top-rated plays in Races 1 and 2, to the longshot flier on Daddy's Gift in Race 3, to a slate of premium races loaded with pace intrigue and exotic potential. The free picks are a strong starting point, but the full TrackWiz breakdown — pace projections, exotic tickets, and all — is available to subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there, and stay hydrated. It's a hot one.

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