Evangeline Picks & Predictions — August 29, 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.