12/14/2019..EVANGELINE DOWNS..OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs was longshot central on Saturday night as each of the four stakes races on the program were won by horses sent off at odds of no less than 12-1. Kiss My Whuut, winner of the $295,890 Evangeline Downs Futurity, won that race at that price with a gate-to-wire victory. He finished the 400-yard distance in a time of 19.653 seconds over the fast track, which equaled a speed index of 96.
Kiss My Whuut broke right on top under rider Juan Garcia, Jr. and never looked back, finishing ¾-lengths ahead of Mr. Tereso, who had tried to challenge early, but could just not challenge the winner. Relentless Dynasty rallied from mid-pack on the outside to outfinish the 8-5 favorite, Domishay, and finish third.
Kiss My Whuut paid $27.40 to win, $10 to place and $5.20 to show. Mr. Tereso returned $7 to place and $4.20 to show, while Relentless Dynasty paid $4 to show.
Kiss My Whuut was bred in Texas by Cindi Keeton. The 2-year-old gelding is owned by Three Bar T Quarter Horses, trained by Toby Keeton and was ridden to victory by Juan Garcia, Jr. The win on Saturday was the third straight victory for Kiss My Whuut. He has won three of six lifetime starts overall and the $147,945 first-place purse lifts his career earnings to $156,885.
Follow My Wagon was seemingly dismissed by the betting public in the $135,500 Evangeline Downs Derby, as he was sent off at odds of 26-1. However, that didn’t matter to the colt as he won in a five-horse photo finish under veteran rider John Hamilton. Follow My Wagon covered the 400-yard distance in a time of 19.744 seconds, equaling a speed index of 93.
Follow My Wagon was bred in Louisiana by Karen Darling Falgoust. The 3-year-old colt is owned by Julio Cesar Rodriguez and trained by Fernando Lopez. He is by Jls Party Wagon and is out of the First Comment mare, Come An Get Me. Follow My Wagon has now won three races from 17 lifetime starts and the $68,510 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $120,045.
First N Sassy was part of the parade of longshots in the Saturday stakes races at Evangeline Downs, winning the $20,000 Sam’s Town Stakes at odds of 13-1. Raul Ramirez, Jr. had First N Sassy near the lead right from the start and she closed nicely to outfinish SS Classyjess by a neck in a time of 17.597 seconds for the 350-yard distance, equaling a speed index of 94.
First N Sassy was bred in Utah by Speed, LLC. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Triple Enterprises, Inc. and trained by Miguel Rodriguez. First N Sassy is by First Down Dash and is out of the Mr. Jess Perry mare, Jess Sass Me. First N Sassy has won four of 12 lifetime starts and the $12,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $45,590.
Financial Top pulled off a 19-1 upset in the $20,000 Evangeline Downs 550 Handicap under rider Luis Vivanco. It was the first victory in 2019 for Financial Top, who broke sharply and took the lead shortly after the start. He held off a late charge from Th Maverick to win by a head in a final time of 27.302 seconds, which equals a speed index of 98.
Financial Top was bred in Arizona by H & E Ranch, Inc. The 5-year-old horse is owned by Gerardo Prado and Karla Diaz and trained by Adrian Huitron. Financial Top is by Heza Fast Dash and is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare, Financial Leverage. He is now 5-for-18 in his career and the $12,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $50,910.
Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume in April when the Thoroughbred racing season will begin. Simulcasting will be available every day at Evangeline Downs.
For more information on racing 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.
