11/22/2025..OPELOUSAS, LA –Rockin the Train pulled off a 32-1 shocker in setting the fastest qualifying time for the Evangeline Downs Derby on Saturday night. The finals, with a purse estimated at just over $120,000, will be contested on the closing night December 20 card. The four trials for 3-year-olds were held on a perfect fall evening over a track rated fast.
Rockin the Train and jockey Alejandro Medina broke sharply and never looked back in the trials for the EVD Derby. The entire field broke in good order and all had clear trips, but Rockin the Train was able to create some separation in the middle of the 400-yard trial and held safely by three-quarters of a length ahead of Eagles Up in the victory. The winner was let go as one of the longest prices in the field and paid $66.40 to win. The winner stopped the clock in a time of 19.872 seconds and earned a speed index of 93.
Owned by Debra Gotovac and trained by Bradley Bolen, Rockin the Train is a winner for the fifth time in 18 career starts. The winning share of $3,000 increased his career earnings to $89,349.
The winner was bred in Texas by the owner and is a brown gelding sired by Bp Wagon Train. He is out of the Rock Solid Jess mare Rock Solid Jet.
Listed below are the 10 fastest qualifiers for the Evangeline Downs Derby from the fastest time down.
1 Rockin the Train Alejandro Medina Bradley Bolen 19.872
2 Jd Heza Paintedeagle Jorge Javier Garcia Fernando Lopez 19.897
3 Tempting Grace Jorge Javier Garcia Luis Martinez, Jr. 19.901
4 Celebratingtheeagle Bobby Ransom Joseph Manucy 19.964
5 Eagles Up Luis Vivanco Jose Sanchez 19.979
6 Elizabeth Alexandria Noe Castaneda Viviane Hill 19.988
7 Future Look Leonardo Rodriguez David Bustamante 20.101
8 Famous Flyin Cowgirl Randy Edison, Jr. Jose Carrizales 20.138
9 Shez Flyn Oliver Martinez Arturo Juarez Flores 20.159
10 Jj Jessa Dynasty Rene Hernandez Jose Carrizales 20.179
The Thanksgiving week schedule features racing Friday and Saturday. The Friday card features trials for the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million with 11 races on the card and a 4:35pm first post. The Saturday card, with the regular 5:35pm first post, includes a pair of trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby. The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 20.
For more information on Evangeline Downs visit the track’s website athttps://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing.
Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram.
