Evangeline Downs Hosts The LQHBA Louisiana Million On Saturday Night

Four stakes will highlight the closing night card on Saturday at Evangeline Downs.

� Coady Photography

Nine of those 10 qualifiers entered to run on Saturday night, with the two fastest qualifiers being Tdz Rolex Rattler for trainer Rosendo Valdez, Jr. and Jrs Shiney Tee for trainer David Bustamante.

The 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Million is A Double Corona, who already won the $475,851 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) during the Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season. A Double Corona set a new track record of :17.196 seconds for the 350-yard distance in victory.

In five lifetime races, the 2-year-old gelding has three wins and two seconds. Eddie Sanchez rode A Double Corona in the LQHBA Sale Futurity victory and will ride again on Saturday night for trainer Jose Sanchez III.

The 7-2 second choice on the morning-line is San Lorenzo, who has also won three of five career starts. The 2-year-old colt has already won the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) in August at Delta Downs. David Alvarez was aboard for that win and will get the riding assignment on Saturday for trainer Hector Alcala.

The $273,763 LQHBA Breeders Derby at a distance of 400 yards will also be on the Saturday program at Evangeline Downs. The overwhelming 7-5 morning-line favorite in the Derby is the fastest qualifier from the trials, Lifeinthefastlanes.

The trial win on November 21 kept the 3-year-old filly a perfect five-for-five in 2020. Earlier in the year, she also scored a victory in the $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby (RG3) for trainer Kenneth Roberts, Jr. David Alvarez, who has ridden Lifeinthefastlanes in all five prior 2020 starts, will be in the saddle on Saturday.

There are two other stakes races on the 10-race program on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational at 400 yards features horses that ran in the trial races for the Million but did not qualify for the Final field. The 3-1 morning-line choice in the Invitational is Shortstop Express, who finished second in her trial race to El Camino Cl, who is the 9-2 third choice on the morning-line in the Million. Ubaldo Luna will have the mount aboard Shortstop Express for trainer Joel Huitron.

The $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You Stakes at 220 yards will be for the fastest of the fast on Saturday night. The 9-5 morning-line favorite is The Cazador, who has already been the runner-up in both the $35,000 Gentilly Dash and the $30,000 Lakeview Dash during the Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season. Gilbert Ortiz will be in the saddle on The Cazador for trainer Michael Zingelmann.

Evangeline Downs will also be welcoming regional racing publicist Martha Claussen on Saturday night. She will be offering her handicapping expertise throughout the evening and conducting post-race interviews with the winning connections for each of the stakes races.

The Saturday program will be the final night of racing for the 2020 American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs. Post time for the 10-race card will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at 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 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or evangelinedowns.com.