11/21/2020..OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs conducted 14 trials over the last two nights for the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1), with seven held on Friday and seven held on Saturday. The five fastest qualifiers from each night will return for the Final on Saturday, December 19.
The fastest qualifier on Friday night was Tdz Rolex Rattler, who covered the 400 yards in a time of 19.772 seconds. That time equaled a speed index of 92 over the fast track. Tdz Rolex Rattler also won his trial for the LQHBA Sale Futurity at Evangeline Downs on October 1, before finishing fifth in the Final.
Tdz Rolex Rattler was bred in Louisiana by Tony and Molly Doughtie. The 2-year-old gelding is by Freighttrain B and is out of the First Down Dash mare, Rolex Time. He is owned by Rosendo Valdez, trained by Rosendo Valdez, Jr. and was ridden to victory by Jorge Linares. The win on Friday was his third from six lifetime starts and the $4,200 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $46,731.
Here are the five fastest qualifiers for the LQHBA Louisiana Million from the seven trials run on Friday night:
HORSE TIME JOCKEY TRAINER
- Tdz Rolex Rattler 19.772 Jorge Linares Rosendo Valdez, Jr.
- Fast Dashin Diamond 19.778 Everardo Rodriguez Kenneth Roberts, Sr.
- San Lorenzo 19.793 David Alvarez Hector Alcala
- Black Blood 19.824 Juan Garcia, Jr. Michael Zingelmann
- Ho Lotta Patriot 19.824 Rolando Cabrera Hector Alcala
The fastest qualifier on Saturday night was Jrs Shiney Tee, who went 400 yards in a time of 19.641 seconds, a time equaling a speed index of 96. Jrs Shiney Tee picked an impressive way to break his maiden, winning for the first time in three career starts.
Jrs Shiney Tee was bred in Louisiana by Julien R. Stevens III. The 2-year-old gelding is owned by Kathy Goodale, trained by David Bustamante and jockey Gilbert Ortiz was aboard for the win. The win was his first in three starts and the $4,200 first-place purse pushes his lifetime earnings to $30,393.
Here are the five fastest qualifiers for the LQHBA Louisiana Million from the seven trials run on Saturday night:
HORSE TIME JOCKEY TRAINER
- Jrs Shiney Tee 19.641 Gilbert Ortiz David Bustamante
- Tee Zo 19.722 Leonardo Rodriguez Lanny Keith
- El Camino Cl 19.770 Raul Ramirez, Jr. Jose Sanchez III
- A Double Corona 19.778 Jorge Linares Jose Sanchez III
- Lafitte 19.832 Rolando Pina Orlando Orozco
Evangeline Downs held three trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby on Saturday night. The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the racetrack for the Final, which will be contested on Saturday, December 19.
LIFEINTHEFASTLANES IS THE FASTEST QUALIFIER FOR THE LQHBA BREEDERS DERBY
The fastest qualifier was Lifeinthefastlanes, who covered the 400 yards in a time of 19.586 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 97. The win on Saturday extended the filly’s winning streak in 2020 to five, among those five wins were stakes wins in the $50,000 Vinton Stakes and the Grade 3 $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana Derby.
Lifeinthefastlanes was bred in Louisiana by Wade Loup, Jr. and Kay Loup. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and was ridden to victory by David Alvarez. She has now won seven of nine career starts and the $4,200 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $268,206.
Here are the 10 fastest qualifiers for the LQHBA Breeders Derby from the three trials run on Saturday night:
HORSE TIME JOCKEY TRAINER
- Lifeinthefastlanes 19.586 David Alvarez Kenneth Roberts, Sr.
- Love the Way You Fly19.650 Juan Garcia, Jr. Trey Ellis
- Top Notch 19.661 Everardo Rodriguez James Padgett II
- Swamp Eagle 19.764 Ubaldo Luna Joel Huitron
- Jrs Coronas Toast 19.767 Luciano Duenez Paul Rigdon
- Leavin You Blue 19.786 R. Hernandez Jr. Leonel Hernandez
- Sir Runaway Cash 19.787 Gilbert Ortiz David Bustamante
- Apollitical B Snow 19.812 Luciano Duenez Miguel Rodriguez
- Lto Thumbs Up 19.821 Eddi Martinez Ricardo Saul Castillo
- Taylor Made Cartel 19.849 Jorge Linares Juan Carrillo, Jr.
The $35,000 Opelousas Stakes (RG2) also took place on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs and the winner by a ¾-length margin was Speedy Piloto Gee, who covered the 350 yards in a time of 17.486 seconds, equaling a speed index of 96.
Speedy Piloto Gee was bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms, LLC. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Armando Vazquez Rodriguez, trained by Barbara Alcantara and was ridden to victory by Juan Garcia, Jr. She is by Mr Piloto and is out of the Duel Fuel mare, Dominating Speed. The win was her fourth from 16 career starts and the $21,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $80,259.
There will be no live racing conducted at Evangeline Downs during the week of Thanksgiving. Live racing will return to Evangeline Downs on Wednesday, December 2. Post time will be 5:35 pm Central Time.
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.
About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 29 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.
