• Purse: $100,000
• Distance: 5½ Furlongs
• Surface: Dirt
Eligibility: Louisiana‑bred Fillies & Mares, 3‑Years‑Old & Up
Venue & Race Details
Location
Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, Louisiana A fast, speed‑favoring dirt surface with a short stretch that rewards early pace and tactical speed in sprint stakes.
Scheduled Post Time: 7:10 PM CT (Race 6)
Expected Weather & Track Conditions
Forecast: Clear skies
Temperature: ~83°F
Humidity: 70%
Wind: 5–7 mph from the south
Track Condition: Fast
Bias Notes: Evangeline’s 5½F dirt sprints strongly favor front‑runners and pressers—deep closers rarely get there unless the pace collapses.
Field Overview – 2026 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle Stakes
Morning line odds, post positions, connections, running styles, and recent form included.
Post 1 – Free Like a Girl (ML 8/5)
Trainer: Chasey Deville Pomier Jockey: Tim Thornton Running Style: Tactical Stalker / Pressing Speed
Recent Finishes
1st – LA Bred Premier Distaff – 1M – Fast
2nd – Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint – 6F – Fast
1st – Magnolia Stakes – 6F – Fast
Analysis
The queen of Louisiana‑bred fillies returns to sprinting, where she is just as dangerous as she is routing. Free Like a Girl has tactical speed, a powerful sustained run, and a massive class edge over most of this field. Thornton fits her perfectly and knows how to keep her out of trouble from the rail.
Strengths: Class of the field; versatile; elite consistency. Concerns: Rail draw in a sprint can be tricky if she gets shuffled back early.
Post 2 – Ova Charged (ML 2/1)
Trainer: Bret Calhoun Jockey: C.J. McMahon Running Style: Front‑running Speed
Recent Finishes
1st – Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint – 6F – Fast
1st – Happy Ticket Stakes – 6F – Fast
2nd – LA Bred Premier Distaff – 1M – Fast
Analysis
Ova Charged is the speed of the speed and the most likely pacesetter. She breaks like a rocket and dares anyone to go with her. At 5½ furlongs, she becomes even more dangerous. Calhoun has her razor‑sharp, and McMahon is excellent with aggressive sprinters.
Strengths: Lone‑speed threat; brilliant early foot; proven stakes sprinter. Concerns: Pressure from outside could soften her late.
Post 3 – Winning Romance (ML 6/1)
Trainer: Bret Calhoun Jockey: Jose Guerrero Running Style: Midpack Stalker
Recent Finishes
3rd – LA Bred Premier Distaff – 1M – Fast
4th – Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint – 6F – Fast
2nd – Magnolia Stakes – 6F – Fast
Analysis
A classy mare who has danced every Louisiana‑bred dance. Winning Romance is not as fast early as Ova Charged or as explosive late as Free Like a Girl, but she is consistent and always gives a strong effort. She’ll sit midpack and try to grind into the top two.
Strengths: Classy; reliable; strong mid‑race acceleration. Concerns: Needs a perfect trip to beat the top pair.
Post 4 – Basalt Street (ML 10/1)
Trainer: Ron Faucheux Jockey: Joel Dominguez Running Style: Pressing Speed
Recent Finishes
2nd – Allowance (EVD) – 5½F – Fast
1st – Allowance (DED) – 6F – Fast
3rd – Optional Claiming – 6F – Fast
Analysis
Basalt Street is a sharp allowance filly stepping up in class. She has enough tactical speed to sit just behind Ova Charged and may get first run if the favorite falters. Faucheux’s barn is dangerous in Louisiana‑bred stakes.
Strengths: Tactical speed; improving form. Concerns: Class test; must run a career‑best.
Post 5 – Spirited Beauty (ML 12/1)
Trainer: Allen Landry Jockey: Vicente Del‑Cid Running Style: Deep Closer
Recent Finishes
4th – Allowance (EVD) – 6F – Fast
3rd – Optional Claiming – 6F – Fast
5th – Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint – 6F – Fast
Analysis
A late‑running mare who needs a pace meltdown to threaten. Spirited Beauty has a strong late kick but is compromised by the short stretch and speed‑favoring nature of Evangeline’s 5½F configuration.
Strengths: Strong finisher; capable of passing tired horses. Concerns: Pace‑dependent; track bias works against her.
Post 6 – She’s Gone Country (ML 15/1)
Trainer: Karl Broberg Jockey: Alonzo Quinonez Running Style: Midpack / Grinder
Recent Finishes
3rd – Allowance (EVD) – 5½F – Fast
5th – Optional Claiming – 6F – Fast
2nd – Allowance (DED) – 6F – Fast
Analysis
A hard‑trying mare who grinds away but lacks the finishing punch of the top contenders. Broberg’s horses often outrun their odds, but this is a tough assignment.
Strengths: Consistent; capable of hitting the board. Concerns: Needs a perfect trip; lacks top‑end speed.
Pace Projection
Early Leaders
Ova Charged (P2) – clear speed
Basalt Street (P4) – pressing
Free Like a Girl (P1) – stalking close
Midpack
Winning Romance (P3)
She’s Gone Country (P6)
Closers
Spirited Beauty (P5)
Expected Shape: Fast early fractions. Advantage to tactical stalkers—especially Free Like a Girl.
Power Rankings (Projected Performance)
Free Like a Girl (P1) – Class + perfect stalking setup
Ova Charged (P2) – Lone‑speed danger
Winning Romance (P3) – Reliable board hitter
Basalt Street (P4) – Improving, but needs a peak effort
Spirited Beauty (P5) – Late threat if pace collapses
She’s Gone Country (P6) – Minor award contender
