Track: Evangeline Downs, Opelousas, Louisiana, USA
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Scheduled Post Time: 8:40 p.m. CT (Race 8)
Distance / Surface: 1 1/16 miles, turf
Purse: $75,000 guaranteed (Louisiana‑bred, 3‑year‑olds & up)
Expected weather and track conditions
Early April evenings in Opelousas are typically mild and humid, with temperatures often in the mid‑60s to low‑70s°F, light winds, and a non‑zero chance of scattered showers. Historically, Evangeline’s turf in this window tends to play “firm” to “good” unless a meaningful rain system moves through. For handicapping purposes, it’s reasonable to expect good‑to‑firm turf under dry or partly cloudy skies, with only a modest bias toward speed or stalkers—true, honest ground rather than deep or yielding.
Race shape overview
This is a Louisiana‑bred turf route with a mix of seasoned older geldings and a few progressive 4‑year‑olds, headlined by Boss of All Bosses and Allnight Moonlight as the key market anchors. Expect a solid, but not suicidal, pace: several want position, but only a couple are true need‑the‑lead types. Stalkers and tactical mid‑pack runners should get every chance if the fractions are honest.
Note: Official free entry lines list weights, connections, and morning‑line odds, but not full running lines; exact recent finish positions require full past performances. Below, “recent form” is described qualitatively rather than as explicit 1‑2‑3 strings.
Horse‑by‑horse analysis
PP 1 – Up N Gone – 20‑1 ML
Jockey: Carlos Perez – Trainer: Samuel Breaux
Profile: A 6‑year‑old Star Guitar gelding who’s been grinding away in state‑bred company, typically doing his best work just off the pace. Breaux is a sharp Louisiana horseman, but this gelding usually needs a perfect trip and a bit of chaos up front to land a big one. From the rail, he’ll likely look for a ground‑saving stalking spot; he’s more of a deep exotics candidate than a win key.
PP 2 – Calicoco – 15‑1 ML
Jockey: Kevin Roman – Trainer: Richard L. Mocklin Jr.
Profile: A 6‑year‑old Calibrachoa gelding who has bounced between allowance and minor stakes. He tends to sit mid‑pack and make one run, but his figures are usually a notch below the top of this group. If the turf plays a bit more demanding and the leaders come back, he can clunk up for a share, but he’ll need a career‑best effort to win.
PP 3 – Cajun Mitole – 15‑1 ML
Jockey: Thomas L. Pompell – Trainer: Brett A. Brinkman
Profile: A 4‑year‑old Mitole gelding with upside—still relatively lightly raced compared with the older veterans. He’s shown speed and versatility in prior starts and now stretches his influence into a tougher turf route stakes. If he relaxes early and handles the distance, he’s a sneaky improving type, but his lack of deep turf‑stakes experience makes him more of a price‑shot than a primary key.
PP 4 – Benoit – 20‑1 ML
Jockey: Joel Dominguez – Trainer: Joe O. Duhon
Profile: A 6‑year‑old Closing Argument gelding who has been a durable presence in Louisiana‑bred ranks. His recent form has been a bit in‑and‑out, often finding himself in the second flight without the late punch to finish the job. At this level and distance, he looks like a longshot who needs a major form reversal or a perfect pace collapse to threaten the top tier.
PP 5 – Allnight Moonlight – 3‑1 ML (one of the main favorites)
Jockey: Isaac Castillo – Trainer: Samuel Breaux
Profile: A 6‑year‑old Ransom the Moon gelding and a proven turf router with strong Louisiana‑bred stakes credentials. He typically races on or just off the lead, and his consistency plus Breaux’s local savvy make him a major win contender. If he secures a clean trip near the front and the turf is firm, he’s the most likely to control the race or get first run on the closers.
PP 6 – Tdzshininluckystar – 20‑1 ML
Jockey: Casey Fusilier – Trainer: Nason Eschete
Profile: A 5‑year‑old Star Guitar gelding who has mostly plied his trade in allowance company. He’s honest but not flashy, often grinding for minor checks rather than delivering knockout blows. In this deeper stakes field, he projects as a fringe player, needing both a big step forward and some racing luck to hit the frame.
PP 7 – Good and Stout – 20‑1 ML
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez – Trainer: Carrol Castille
Profile: A 5‑year‑old Coal Front horse with some tactical speed and a pedigree that suggests he can handle firm turf. Hernandez is a strong, aggressive rider who can put him in the race early, but his overall class profile is a notch below the top choices. He’s the kind who could hang around for a minor award if he gets a soft trip, but a win would be an upset.
PP 8 – Big Chopper – 12‑1 ML
Jockey: Jamison Mudd – Trainer: Scott Gelner
Profile: A 7‑year‑old Shackleford horse with plenty of experience and some back class, especially in Louisiana‑bred company. He can show early speed or sit just off it, and his toughness makes him dangerous if the race turns into a stamina test late. At a mid‑range price, he’s a legitimate upset candidate and a strong inclusion in exactas and trifectas.
PP 9 – Laser Clad – 15‑1 ML
Jockey: Harry Hernandez – Trainer: Keith G. Bourgeois
Profile: A 4‑year‑old Mo Town gelding with a profile that suggests he’s still improving. He’s likely to sit mid‑pack and try to quicken late; whether he can match strides with the likes of Boss of All Bosses and Allnight Moonlight is the question. He’s an interesting price horse for deeper tickets if you believe he has another forward move in him on turf.
PP 10 – Boss of All Bosses – 9‑5 ML (morning‑line favorite)
Jockey: Timothy Thornton – Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Profile: A 4‑year‑old Street Boss colt with top‑tier connections and the strongest class profile in the field. Maker ships and spots aggressively, and Thornton is a high‑percentage rider at Evangeline. He has tactical speed, proven turf ability, and figures that tower over many of these—he’s the most likely winner on paper, though his price will reflect that.
PP 11 – Fran’s Star – 6‑1 ML
Jockey: Emanuel Nieves – Trainer: Shane Wilson
Profile: A 5‑year‑old Star Guitar gelding who fits this race perfectly on paper: solid turf form, reliable finishing kick, and a trainer who does well with Louisiana‑breds. He’s the type to sit just behind the first flight and launch a sustained run turning for home. If Boss of All Bosses or Allnight Moonlight stub their toe, Fran’s Star is the most logical alternative to pick up the pieces.
PP 12 – Wicked Secret – 8‑1 ML
Jockey: Julio Ramirez Jr. – Trainer: Whitney J. Zeringue Jr.
Profile: A 6‑year‑old Mendelssohn gelding with a versatile running style and solid turf credentials. Drawn wide, he’ll need either a sharp break to secure position or a patient ride to drop in and save ground. At his morning‑line, he’s a live mid‑price who can absolutely hit the board if he works out a trip.
Pace and tactical picture
Likely pace players: Allnight Moonlight (5), Big Chopper (8), Boss of All Bosses (10), Good and Stout (7).
Stalkers/pressers: Fran’s Star (11), Wicked Secret (12), Cajun Mitole (3), Laser Clad (9).
Deeper types: Up N Gone (1), Calicoco (2), Benoit (4), Tdzshininluckystar (6).
A controlled but honest pace seems most likely, with Boss of All Bosses and Allnight Moonlight either sharing or sitting just off the lead. That setup slightly favors tactical stalkers with a turn of foot—notably Fran’s Star and Wicked Secret—while still leaving the door open for the favorite to assert his class.
Projected outcome
Boss of All Bosses (PP 10) – Class edge, Maker/Thornton, ideal tactical style.
Allnight Moonlight (PP 5) – Proven local turf router, likely pace presence.
Fran’s Star (PP 11) – Strong stalking closer, perfect fit for race shape.
Wicked Secret (PP 12) – Wide draw but dangerous if he works out a trip.
