Louisiana Million Highlights Stakes Card Saturday Night, Rematch For San Lorenzeaux And Blood Money

OPELOUSAS, LA�DECEMBER 14, 2021�The $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1) is the featured event on the Saturday night card at Evangeline Downs. LQHBA Sale Futurity champion San Lorenzeaux and fastest trial qualifier Blood Money will renew their budding rivalry in the Million. The race over the distance of 400 yards is the final event on an eight-race card that has four stakes races.

San Lorenzeaux, drawn to the post nearest the rail, has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning line favorite off his impressive win in the LQHBA Sale Futurity and easy trial victory. The Hector Alcala trainee set a new track record of 17.204 seconds for the 350 -yard distance in the Sale Futurity victory. Raul Ramirez will be in the irons as San Lorenzeaux looks to add to his current three-race win streak.

Blood Money, who defeated San Lorenzeaux in a futurity final at Delta Downs, looks to reverse the decision of his only career loss with his runner-up placing in the Sale Futurity final. A winner of six races in seven starts, the Rosendo Valdez, Jr. runner set the fastest qualifying time with his 19.634 second trial run for the 400-yard distance. Blood Money will break from post 10 and has been tabbed as the 2-1 second choice.

The $216,594 LQHBA Derby (RG3) at 400 yards will go as race seven on the card. A number of runners sport chances in the race for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds. An impressive, but troubled trip, has Apollitical High as the 5-2 morning line favorite. El Camino Cl posted the fastest qualifying trial time and was installed as the 3-1 second choice. Sir Louisiana Dash, Black Blood and Fireintheblood also look to be runners that might be attractive to bettors.

The two other stakes on the card are the $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational and the $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You. The Invitational, for trial runners that did not qualify for the finals, will be contested at 400 yards and the Scoopies Leaving You at the distance of 250 yards.

Gamefaceprize is the tepid 5-2 morning line favorite in the Invitational. Appolitcalfastlane, 7-2 second choice, and 4-1 third choice TF Fearless Runaway are logical contenders in the full field of 10 runners.

Love the Way You Fly, a runner-up in two stakes at the current meet, is the morning line favorite in the Scoopies Leaving You. The Trey Ellis runner looks to turn the tables on Gentilly Dash winner Steam Rollyr.

= Evangline Downs will welcome regional racing publicist Martha Claussen on Saturday Night. She will be offering her insight and handicapping selections throughout the evening and conducting post-race interviews.

The LQHBA will be sponsoring a scholarship giveaway with five $2,000 scholarships to be awarded in a random drawing. Registration begins at 4:30pm at the table located in the grandstand on the main floor and closes after the fourth race. Louisiana high school seniors graduating in 2022, or students currently enrolled at a Louisiana college or university are eligible. The drawing will take place after the fifth race and entrants must be present to win.

First post for the Saturday night card is at 5:35pm (CST). The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season continues through December 30.

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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 and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.