Evan Sing and Flavien Prat capture the Colonel Power (Hodges Photography)
Fair Grounds Press Release
NEW ORLEANS— Norman Cheng’s Evan Sing boldly rallied down the center of Fair Grounds’ turf course to defeat seven rivals in the 35th running of the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes.
Piloted by Flavien Prat and trained by Al Stall Jr., Evan Sing completed 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.98 over the “firm” Stall Wilson Turf Course.
In the early stages of the Colonel Power, Evan Sing tracked in third, about two lengths behind the early dueling leaders Yankee Seven and Angaston. Into the far turn, following an opening quarter-mile fraction of :23.30, Yankee Seven and jockey Aubrie Green separated themselves slightly from Mitchell Murrill and Angaston. Meanwhile, Prat was beginning to ask Evan Sing for his best run at the top of the homestretch and inside the 1/16 pole, Evan Sing was able to rally past Angaston for a three-quarters of a length victory.
It was another 1 ½ lengths back to a tiring Yankee Seven followed by Surveillance, Ice Chocolat (BRZ), Pyron, Manny Wah, All In Sync.
Evan Sing was sent off the 2-1 favorite and returned $6.20, $4 and $3.40. Angaston, who re-rallied on a tiring Yankee Seven, returned $7.80 and $6.40. Yankee Seven completed the trifecta and paid $9.60.
Evan Sing is a 4-year-old gelded son of Hard Spun out of the Spectrum (IRE) mare Viapervita (IRE). He was bred in Kentucky by his owner.
Colonel Power Quotes:
Flavien Prat, jockey, Evan Sing, (winner): “We had a good trip and drawing the outside post helped. He was traveling really well around there and kicked home strong.”
Al Stall Jr., trainer, Evan Sing (winner): “We gave him a little freshening after running hard in Kentucky. He would’ve came back sooner but the last race came off the grass. So, he continued to train forwardly into this race. I think the freshness allowed him to sit closer to the pace and hopefully this is a good sign of things to come.”
James Graham, jockey, Surveillance, (fourth): “When he’s right, he’s proven that. Maybe it was just the grass that he wasn’t as happy on. He punched too but they went slow up front.”
