Corona Blue Estrella, under jockey Pedro Espinosa, won the $30,000 Amelia Belle Stakes on Friday at Evangeline Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

OPELOUSAS, LA—OCTOBER 10, 2025—In a thrilling finish to Friday night’s $30,000 Amelia Belle Stakes at Evangeline Downs, Corona Blue Estrella surged late under jockey Pedro Espinosa to capture the 350-yard feature for accredited Louisiana-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward.

The 4-year-old daughter of multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue, out of Corona de Estrellas by Corona Cartel, stopped the clock in 17.822 seconds for a 93 speed index, running over a fast track with a 4-mph tailwind.

The bay filly, bred in Louisiana by Tom Hill Selman, is owned by Lester Colomb Jr. and Raymond Loup and trained by Kenneth Weeks. A $15,000 purchase at the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale, Corona Blue Estrella earned the winner’s share of $18,000, boosting her lifetime earnings to nearly $150,000 while adding another stakes title to her resume.

She has consistently performed throughout her career, recording multiple top-three finishes at Louisiana tracks, including winning the RG3 Miss Polly Classic Stakes at Delta Downs last year. She continues to show her trademark late-running power, which has made her a formidable contender in state-bred company.

Rf Imperial Choice finished second after a game effort, a 3-year-old filly by second-crop sire Imperial Hint-TB out of Rdd Obvious Choice by Heza Fast Dash. Ridden by Jose Rodriguez and trained by Ismael Solis-Guevara, the Rogers Farm-bred filly battled courageously down the lane to finish a half-length behind the winner.

Owned by her trainer, she earned $6,000 for her performance to bring her earings total to $123,247. The filly was a $10,500 purchase at the 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale and continues to show promise among Louisiana’s sophomore fillies.

Another Solis-Guevara trainee, Rogue Fast Dash, finished third, a half-length behind the runner-up. The 4-year-old sorrel filly by former leading sire Heza Fast Dash out of Miss Jess Rogue by Mr Jess Perry is owned by Archie McKinnon and was ridden by Juan Garcia Jr.

Bred by Robicheaux Ranch/ Triple M, Rogue Fast Dash, a $105,000 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale purchase, earned $3,300 for her effort. Despite stumbling slightly initially, she regained her stride and closed strongly to secure the show position. A stakes winner, she has banked $164,757 in 16 career starts.

Pari-mutuel payoffs: Corona Blue Estrella returned $4.00 to win, $3.00 to place, and $2.10 to show; Rf Imperial Choice paid $5.20 and $2.80; Rogue Fast Dash returned $2.20 to show.

The order of finish was Corona Blue Estrella, Rf Imperial Choice, Rogue Fast Dash, Coco Piloto, and Patty Wagon Train.

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