SAN LORENZO PREVAILS IN THE $1,000,000 LQHBA LOUISIANA MILLION

12/19/2020..OPELOUSAS, LA – The $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1) took place on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs and it turned into the second Futurity win of 2020 for San Lorenzo, who had previously won the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs in August. The win was one of three stakes victories on the night for jockey David Alvarez, who took home the riding title for the 2020 Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs with a total of 45 wins for the meeting.

LIFEINTHEFASTLANES WINS THE $273,763 LQHBA BREEDERS DERBY IN A TRACK RECORD TIME

San Lorenzo broke in mid-pack and was sent along strongly by Alvarez midway through the race, which featured a blanket finish with four horses on the finish line together. San Lorenzo got home first and won by a margin of a neck in a final time of 19.408 seconds over the sloppy track, equaling a speed index of 103.

San Lorenzo was sent off at odds of 5-1 and returned $12.60 to win, $8.20 to place and $4 to show. Fast Dashin Diamond was second and paid $13.20 to place and $7.40 to show, while the 6-5 betting favorite, A Double Corona, finished third and paid $2.10 to show. The win was his fourth in six lifetime starts and the $445,000 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $993,340.

The 2-year-old colt was bred in Louisiana by Jim and Natalie Montgomery. He is owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr. and trained by Hector Alcala. San Lorenzo is by Coronas Leaving You and is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare, In the Open.

The $273,763 LQHBA Breeders Derby was a tour de force performance by Lifeinthefastlanes. While she did not break on top out of the gate, it was not long before she rolled to the lead and prevailed over a very tough competitor in Love the Way You Fly, winning by ¾-length in a track record time for the 400 yards of 19.300 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 105.

Lifeinthefastlanes was the 4-5 betting favorite in the LQHBA Breeders Derby and paid $3.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.40 to show. Love the Way You Fly was second and returned $3.80 to place and $3.60 to show. Swamp Eagle finished third and paid $6 to show. Lifeinthefastlanes completed a perfect six-for-six season with the win in the Derby. It was her eighth win in 10 career races and the $121,825 first-place purse lifts her lifetime earnings to $390,031.

Lifeinthefastlanes is a 3-year-old filly bred in Louisiana by Wade Loup, Jr. and Kay Loup. She is owned by Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and was ridden to victory by David Alvarez. The filly is by Jess Louisiana Blue and is out of the Panther Mountain mare, Pantherinthefastlane.

The $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational was won by the lone maiden in the field, Apollitcal Chais. He had hit the board in three of four previous starts, including running third in his Louisiana Million trial on November 21. In the Invitational, Apollitical Chais went the 400 yards in a time of 19.742 seconds, equaling a speed index of 93.

Apollitical Chais was sent off at odds of 6-1 and paid $14 to win, $10.40 to place and $7.20 to show. La Savanne ran second and paid $11 to place and $5 to show, while Bad Girl Corona finished third and returned $3 to show. This first win for Apollitical Chais in five lifetime starts was worth $24,000 and that raises his career earnings to $29,090.

Apollitical Chais is a 2-year-old bred in Louisiana by Lester Colomb, Jr. He is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and was ridden to victory by David Alvarez. Apollitical Chais is by Apollitical Blood and is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare, Duachais.

The Cazador won the $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You Stakes on Saturday night. He had been the runner-up in two previous stakes races during the 2020 Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season and broke through to score a stakes victory, winning by ½-length and covering the 220 yards in a time of 11.774 seconds, equaling a speed index of 94.

The Cazador won as an even-money favorite and returned $4.00 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Jj Chris S Angel finished second and paid $13.40 to place and $4.40 to show, while Guidry Pride II ran third and paid $5.20 to show. The win was his 10^th in 28 lifetime starts and the $18,000 first-place purse increases his career earnings to $237,872.

The 5-year-old gelding was bred in Louisiana by trainer Michael Zingelmann and Curtis Crenwelge. He is owned by Rayne Knight and was ridden to victory by Gilbert Ortiz. The Cazador is by Sir Runaway Dash and is out of the Toast To Dash mare, Told Ya.

Live racing will return to Evangeline Downs with the beginning of the track’s Thoroughbred season, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7.

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.