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Evangeline Picks & Predictions — July 23, 2026

July 23, 20268 racesAll Evangeline picks

This card ran on July 23, 2026.

Best bets at Evangeline, July 23, 2026

Race 17Toms Lucky MoML 5/26:15 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 warm Thursday afternoon at Evangeline Downs — partly cloudy skies with the mercury sitting at 88°F. The Louisiana heat is a constant at this track, but conditions look manageable today, and with eight races on the card spanning both dirt and turf, there's plenty of action to dig into from first post to last.

The card is nicely mixed — four dirt races, three on the turf, and one turf maiden special weight thrown in for good measure. Distances range from a quick five furlongs on the grass up to a full mile on both surfaces, so pace scenarios are going to shift dramatically from race to race. That kind of variety rewards sharp handicapping and punishes one-dimensional thinking.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all eight races. The first three are on the house — free for every reader. Races 4 through 8 are where the card really deepens, and that's where a TrackWiz subscription pays for itself.

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Race 1

6:15 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer at a mile on dirt where TrackWiz ratings separate three horses from the rest of the field — the favorite on the morning line isn't the top-rated, and that gap could be worth exploiting.

win7Toms Lucky MoML 5/2

Toms Lucky Mo tops our ratings at 79.75 and draws the 5/2 morning line, making this a case where the public and TrackWiz analysis actually align. Trained by Shelton J. Zenon, Sr. and piloted by Kelvin Arana, this is a maiden field where consistency of preparation matters more than a flashy win percentage. The mile distance on dirt suits a horse whose profile projects as a pace-presser, and with several long shots filling out the bottom of the field, getting to the wire first is very achievable here.

place2YoucandoitboyML 10/1

Youcandoitboy is the value angle in this race — rated 76.88 by TrackWiz, second-best in the field, yet sitting at a juicy 10/1 on the morning line. Trainer Alan Klanfer sends this one out with Javier Antonio Hernandez aboard, and an average speed figure of 53 gives this horse a tick of an edge over several rivals. At those odds, including Youcandoitboy in exactas and trifectas is a smart play.

show5SherkhanML 4/1

Sherkhan comes in with a TrackWiz rating of 74.86 — third-best in the field — and is trained by Scott Gelner with Colby J. Hernandez up. The 4/1 morning line is fair for a horse with this kind of profile in a maiden claimer, and with El Chavo drawing the morning-line favorite at 2/1 but rated only 54.21, Sherkhan looks like the stronger price for exotic coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:42 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

Bronze Legacy looks like a class standout on paper in this turf claiming mile, but Treasure Me's 25% career win rate keeps this from being a rubber-stamp, and Simply Grace adds a third live contender from off the pace.

win1Bronze LegacyML 2/1

Bronze Legacy dominates this field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — a full 19 points clear of the second choice — and has a 16% career win rate to back it up. Timothy Thornton gets the call for trainer Sam B. David, Jr., who also runs Awree in the same race, showing clear barn confidence in Bronze Legacy as the primary weapon. On turf at a mile, this horse's average speed figure of 53 is in line with the field, meaning pace is unlikely to be a concern, and the 2/1 morning line reflects deserved favoritism.

place2Treasure MeML 5/2

Treasure Me is the most proven winner in the field with a 25% career win rate — best of any horse in this race — and Jansen Melancon is a reliable pilot who should have this horse well-placed on the turf. Trainer Allen Landry is a familiar name at Evangeline, and at 5/2 on the morning line, Treasure Me has enough back class to hit the board even if Bronze Legacy is simply too good.

show8Simply GraceML 4/1

Simply Grace rates at 61.00 from the TrackWiz model, third-best in the field, and Isaac Castillo gives trainer Jayde J. Gelner a capable hand. With a 16% career win rate and a 4/1 morning line, Simply Grace is a legitimate show play and a useful trifecta piece for bettors looking to land a multi-race ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Our three free races give you a solid early-card foundation. Race 1 opens things up on the dirt with maiden claimers going a mile — Toms Lucky Mo at 5/2 morning line is our top selection, and in maiden claiming miles at Evangeline, stamina and a clean trip off the pace tend to matter more than raw early speed. Race 2 flips the script entirely with a turf mile, where Bronze Legacy (2/1) carries our highest TrackWiz rating of the free trio at 88.54 — that number reflects a horse we think is well-placed against this field. Then Race 3 brings us back to the dirt for a six-furlong maiden claimer, where Ronnie's Ace at a juicy 5/1 morning line gives you some built-in value if the pace setup sets up right.

The early turf-to-dirt-to-turf rotation keeps things interesting, and if you're building a multi-race wager, the transition between Race 1 and Race 2 is worth mapping carefully — surface switches can create overlays when the crowd isn't adjusting quickly enough.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:09 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Fourteen runners in a 6-furlong dirt maiden claimer makes pace sorting critical — Ronnie's Ace stands out as a clear class-and-speed standout in what is otherwise a very competitive, deep field of first-time and multi-start maidens.

win10Ronnie's AceML 5/1

Ronnie's Ace comes in with the top TrackWiz rating in the race at 84.17 and the best average speed figure of any horse we're highlighting at 54 — a meaningful edge in a maiden sprint. Trained by Ronnie Averett and ridden by Timothy Thornton, this horse drew the #10 program number in a big field but brings measurably superior figures to the table. At 5/1 on the morning line, there's also real value here — this should be shorter given the rating gap.

place6Popa's PrideML 6/1

Popa's Pride is a legitimate price threat at 6/1, posting a TrackWiz rating of 61.17 and matching Ronnie's Ace on raw speed (54 average) with Julio Ramirez, Jr. in the irons for trainer Markel D. Romero. In a wide-bodied maiden field, a horse with that kind of speed figure can grab a piece even if the top pick runs them down late.

show4Seeking AcesML 3/1

Seeking Aces is the 3/1 morning-line second choice and rates at 59.12 — not far behind Popa's Pride — giving trainer Ronnie Averett a two-horse barn presence in this race alongside Ronnie's Ace. Elio J. Barrera gets the mount, and while the win price won't be special at those odds, Seeking Aces is a solid show ticket and trifecta anchor for anyone trying to structure an exotic around the top two picks.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 14 runners

Race 4

7:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

This claiming mile on dirt features a heavy favorite in Thats Unbelievable, whose TrackWiz rating dwarfs the field by a wide margin — the real question is whether Broadway Star or Fern Spirit can hold off a competitive pack for the minor spots.

win8Thats UnbelievableML 5/1

Thats Unbelievable is the standout in this race at a TrackWiz rating of 84.17 — more than 28 points clear of the next-best horse — and a 14% career win rate is the highest in the field. Jansen Melancon, one of the stronger jockeys at Evangeline, gets the mount for trainer Allen Landry, a barn that knows how to spot horses in the right spots. At 5/1 on the morning line, this feels like a gift — expect this price to tighten considerably at post.

place7Broadway StarML 6/1

Broadway Star rates at 55.09 and sits at 6/1 on the morning line, which is fair for a horse with an 8% career win rate trained by L. Jay Cuccia with Harry Hernandez up. In a field where several rivals are clustered between 36 and 44 in TrackWiz ratings, Broadway Star's higher figure makes it a reasonable second-best candidate to hold a place.

show2Fern SpiritML 5/2

Fern Spirit draws the 5/2 morning line and posts an 11% career win rate — second-best in the field — giving trainer Rosa E. Ramirez a live contender despite a rating of 44.36. Jonuelle Pena takes the mount, and while the rating suggests this horse is firmly mid-tier, the win percentage and competitive post price make Fern Spirit a viable show ticket and trifecta leg.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

8:03 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A 5-furlong turf maiden special weight — the classiest condition on the card — sets up as a potential Spicy Mustard coming-out party, though Crescent Sky and Stellar Knickie give the field real depth at the top.

win6Spicy MustardML 9/2

Spicy Mustard leads all TrackWiz ratings in this race at 80.98 despite going off at 9/2 on the morning line — a price that doesn't fully reflect this horse's advantage over the field. Trained by Lee Thomas with Jose Luis Rodriguez in the irons, the combination is straightforward but the numbers do the talking here. In a maiden special weight on turf, class and preparation tend to separate quickly over five furlongs, and Spicy Mustard's profile suggests this horse is pointing for a win.

place7Crescent SkyML 5/2

Crescent Sky rates at 62.38 for trainer Allen Landry, and Jansen Melancon — one of the busiest and most effective jockeys on the Evangeline circuit — gets the mount. The 5/2 morning line actually makes Crescent Sky the public's second choice, and an average speed figure of 54 on turf gives this horse legitimate pace credentials to secure a place finish even if Spicy Mustard is too fast up front.

show2Stellar KnickieML 3/1

Stellar Knickie has the second-best average speed figure in the field at 55 — tied with Go Girl Go and Scarlet Heart — but rates at 59.69 under the TrackWiz model, putting her third overall. Casey Fusilier gets the call for trainer Kevin M. Williams, and at 3/1 on the morning line this is a competitive price for a horse that can press or sit just off the pace in a short sprint. A solid show ticket and useful in tri wheels.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

8:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Weitzman is a clear TrackWiz favorite in this 6.5-furlong dirt claimer, but Clearly Stardom's eye-popping 40% career win rate makes the exacta very compelling — a one-two finish from those two would make sense at any price.

win7WeitzmanML 3/1

Weitzman tops the field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and a solid 22% career win rate, and trainer Eric Ramaekers puts Javier Antonio Hernandez up for a horse that projects well over 6.5 furlongs on dirt. The 3/1 morning line is reasonable — not a steal, but not a fade spot either. With an average speed figure of 54 matching the best in the field, Weitzman has the raw speed to control or sit just off whatever pace develops.

place2Clearly StardomML 5/1

Clearly Stardom is arguably the most interesting horse on the Evangeline card today — a 40% career win rate is extraordinary at any level, and a TrackWiz rating of 76.58 backs up the raw win percentage. Harry Hernandez rides for trainer Shane Wilson, and a 5/1 morning line on a horse with that kind of win record represents real value. This is a strong exacta partner with Weitzman.

show4Flyin PrivateML 8/1

Flyin Private comes in at 8/1 with a 20% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 65.70 — third-best in the field — giving trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. a live price horse that Jansen Melancon can navigate to the board. The average speed figure of 54 puts this horse in the same tier as the top contenders, and at 8/1, Flyin Private is excellent show value and an interesting trifecta piece beneath the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

8:57 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A deep allowance optional claiming mile on turf where five horses are separated by fewer than three TrackWiz rating points — pace scenario and jockey savvy on the green stuff could matter more than raw figures in this one.

win1SabiML 5/2

Sabi leads our ratings at 78.50 with a strong 25% career win rate — best in the field — and trainer Emile Schwandt sends out this horse with Colby J. Hernandez, who knows this circuit well. On a mile of turf, a 25% career win rate is a meaningful signal that this horse knows how to finish, and the 5/2 morning line is a fair reflection of the public's view. What TrackWiz sees beyond the morning line is a horse whose profile edges out several similarly-priced rivals.

place5GoldbrickML 10/1

Goldbrick is the value standout in this race — a TrackWiz rating of 76.88 (second-best in the field) with a 10/1 morning line attached. Trainer W. Bret Calhoun is a respected name at this level, and Timothy Thornton gets the mount on a horse that posted an average speed figure of 54, best among all runners listed. At double-digit odds in an allowance optional claimer, Goldbrick is the kind of price you want in your place column.

show4Seismic SpiritML 5/1

Seismic Spirit catches the eye immediately with a 35% career win rate — the highest of anyone in this race — and a TrackWiz rating of 76.41 that puts this horse squarely in the mix. Kevin Roman rides for trainer Jonathan Wong, and at 5/1, this horse profiles as a natural show play for anyone who wants board coverage in a race where the top four contenders are nearly inseparable on ratings.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 8

9:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Running Bayou enters as the clear TrackWiz top pick in this six-furlong dirt claimer, but Our Bodie's top-of-field speed figure and Sarah's Runner's competitive rating make the exotics well worth building around the top horse.

win8Running BayouML 5/2

Running Bayou posts the highest TrackWiz rating in the race at 87.81 and draws the 5/2 morning line — a price that reflects heavy competition on paper but slightly undervalues the rating gap. Trained by Isai V. Gonzalez with Jose Luis Rodriguez in the irons, this horse averages a speed figure of 54, second-best in the field. In a six-furlong dash on dirt, a horse this well-rated at a fair price should be the starting point for all your ticket construction.

place1Our BodieML 4/1

Our Bodie is the speed horse to watch — an average speed figure of 55 is the best in the field, and trainer Dwayne Jackson sends this one out with Javier Antonio Hernandez at 4/1. The TrackWiz rating of 72.48 is second-best overall, and while the 5% career win rate is a flag, speed figures tell a more encouraging story in a sprint. A horse with that kind of raw speed is almost always worth a place bet.

show6Sarah's RunnerML 3/1

Sarah's Runner comes in rated 71.95 — third in the field — and has the backing of trainer Allen Landry, a barn doing solid work at Evangeline this meet. Casey Fusilier gets the call, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Sarah's Runner is perhaps the most straightforward show play on the card today. This horse rounds out the trifecta very nicely under the top two picks.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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Eight races, two surfaces, and a card that rewards preparation over gut plays. Bronze Legacy and Toms Lucky Mo anchor the free picks, while Running Bayou and Weitzman headline a premium back half that's worth the deep dive. Get the complete TrackWiz analysis — pace projections, exotic strategies, and our top longshot angle — with a Premium subscription. Good luck out there today.

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