MPSHINNING DOMINATES IN THE $1,000,000 LQHBA LOUISIANA MILLION

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12/15/2018..EVANGELINE DOWNS..OPELOUSAS, LA – Mpshinning was the fastest qualifier for tonight’s $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1) and he lived up to the advanced billing by not only winning the race, but setting a new Evangeline Downs track record. He completed the 400-yard distance in a time of :19.405 seconds, equaling a speed index of 106 over the fast track.

Mpshinning broke well from his inside post position and once he got rolling under jockey Luis Vivanco, the race was over. He pulled away from the competition and scored a victory by 1-1/2 lengths over 22-1 longshot, Dasha Blue. Prize Dasher overcame a bobble at the beginning and rallied to finish third.

The winner was sent off as the 2-5 favorite by the wagering public and paid $2.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Dasha Blue returned $14.60 to place and $7.80 to show. Prize Dasher paid $4 to show.

Mpshinning was bred in Louisiana by Jon and Donna McPherson. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Larry J. Boudreaux and trained by Josue Huitron. He is by 2010 All-American Futurity winner, Mr. Piloto, and out of the First To Shine mare, Shinningperrydash. Mpshinning has now won six of eight lifetime starts and the $445,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $591,654.

Dashnunder Afullmoon was sent off as a solid 4-5 favorite in the final of the $266,560 LQHBA Breeders Derby and she rewarded her many backers with a dazzling victory, covering the 400-yards in a final time of :19.438 seconds, equaling a speed index of 105.

The 2017 LQHBA Champion 2-year-old filly is owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr.and trained by Josue Ponce. She was ridden to victory by Raul Ramirez, Jr. The filly is by Heza Fast Dash and is out of the Dash Ta Fame mare, Full Moon Dasher.

The victory is the eighth win in 11 lifetime tries for Dashnunder Afullmoon. She earned $118,619 for the LQHBA Breeders Derby win and that increases her lifetime earnings to $711,951.

Much like Mpshinning, Jordan Eagle was the fastest qualifier from the trials for the $311,470 Evangeline Downs Futurity and he came through with a victory as well, surviving a photo with the game Wii B in a final time of :19.455 seconds for the 400-yards, equaling a speed index of 104.

Jordan Eagle was bred in Texas by Weetona Stanley. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Javier Rosique, trained by Josue Ponce and was ridden to victory by Jesse Levario. Jordan Eagle is by One Famous Eagle and is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare, Pyc Prize Doll. He has won three of five lifetime starts and the $155,735 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $173,228.

Stone Cold Leader rallied after starting last in the field of nine to win the $160,010 Evangeline Downs Derby. Stone Cold Leader got by the betting favorite, Jess Adalida, in the final strides to score the victory in a final time of 19.458 seconds over the fast track, equaling a speed index of 104.

Stone Cold Leader was bred in Indiana by Mark Michel. The 3-year-old gelding is owned by Patrick Richardson, trained by Joe M. Davis and was ridden by Rolando Pina. He is by Brookstone Bay and is out of the Leader Of The Class mare, Sheza Classy Leader. It is the ninth win from 18 career starts for Stone Cold Leader and the $80,005 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $426,333.

In addition to the four major finals on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, there were three other stakes races contested on the program.

The first running of the $20,000 Evangeline Downs 550 was won by 7-5 betting favorite, Cobalt Creek. The 6-year-old gelding covered the 550-yard distance in a time of :26.929 seconds, equaling a speed index of 108.

Cobalt Creek was bred in Missouri by Jim Streelman or Bill Dale. He is owned by Vwp Jr., Inc., trained by John Stinebaugh and was ridden to victory by Gilbert Ortiz. Cobalt Creek is by Walk Thru Fire and is out of the Check Him Out mare, Checknbac. He has won 10 of 36 lifetime starts and the $12,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $338,899.

Eye N Capo picked up his third career win at Evangeline Downs in the $20,000 Sam’s Town Stakes. He had to overcome some traffic trouble to get up in time for the victory, finishing the 350-yard distance in a time of :17.430 seconds, which is a speed index of 101.

Eye N Capo was bred in Oklahoma by Dee and/or Betty Raper. The 4-year-old gelding is owned by Ruben Garcia Montemayor, trained by Josue Ponce and was ridden by Jesse Levario. Eye N Capo is by Capo de Capi and is out of the Mr. Eye Opener mare, Satisfeyen. It was the ninth lifetime win in 16 career starts and the $12,000 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $465,910.

Heza Made Man was the winner of the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational, covering the 400-yard distance in a time of :19.666 seconds, equaling a speed index of 98.

Heza Made Man is a 2-year-old gelding owned by Martina Carmen Araujo Diaz, trained by Joe M. Davis and was ridden to victory by Rolando Pina. Heza Made Man is by Heza Fast Dash and is out of the Streakin La Jolla mare, Six Streakin Salute. It was the second victory in six career starts for Heza Made Man and the $24,000 first-place purse pushes his lifetime earnings to $36,750.

Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume on Monday afternoon with a nine-race program. Post time on Monday will be 3:15 pm Central Time.

For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.