A Maverick, under jockey Claudio Aguilar, posted the fastest time for the $305,000-est EVD Futurity Friday night at Evangeline Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 21, 2025—Ninety-four 2-year-old American Quarter Horses lined up in eleven trial heats Friday evening at Evangeline Downs, all chasing a berth in the $305,000-est., The Grade 2 EVD Futurity is scheduled to run on December 20.

When the dust settled over the 400-yard distance, A Maverick, Jp Roman Train, and Feenom emerged as the three fastest qualifiers from a deep and competitive group of juveniles.

The ten swiftest overall will advance to the lucrative final next month.

A Maverick delivered the performance of the night in the eighth trial, stopping the timer in 19.958, the only effort to crack the 20-second barrier. Breaking sharply and overcoming a bobble before drifting inward, the sorrel gelding took command and drew clear to win by a half-length.

Sired by champion A Revenant and out of Down Some Gold by First Down Dash, A Maverick was bred in Texas by Triple K Farms. He races for Alfredo Garza Rodriguez, is trained by Yasmine M. Medina, and was ridden with confidence by Claudio Ponce Aguilar.

The 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase brought $24,000 as a yearling and continued to look like a bargain tonight. A winner of five of nine starts this season, A Maverick won the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1) in July and was third in the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Futurity last month. He has earned $384,510.

The second-fastest clocking came two races later when Jp Roman Train surged late to win the tenth trial in 19.975 . The chestnut gelding, by world champion sire Freighttrain B and out of Ms Blue Intriguing by Jess Louisiana Blue, fought through traffic before asserting himself in the final strides.

Bred by Toribo Montero, Jp Roman Train is owned by JP Quarter Horses (Johanna Perez) and trained by Renato Contreras. Jockey Nestor Duran guided him through a determined, grinding finish that secured his spot among the top qualifiers. A finalist in the Grade 2 Firecracker Futuriy at Delta Downs last summer he has earned $15,734 in seven starts.

Rounding out the top three was Feenom, who dominated the second trial with a polished, professional performance, stopping the clock in 20.009. The sorrel colt never looked threatened as he drifted out mildly and pulled away late under jockey Luis L. Vivanco.

By multiple stakes sire This Is An Eagle and out of Zoomin N Celebrating by Azoom, Feenom was bred in Texas by Debbie Eller. Racing for HEH Holdings LLC, he is trained by Patrick L. Clemons. He sold for $46,000 as a 2024 TQHA Y Yearling Sale and continues to justify that investment. He was second in the Gillespie County Fair Futurity in August and has earned $62,150.

In total, eleven trials produced a competitive lineup for the December 20 final, where the ten fastest juveniles from tonight’s program will meet again with $305,000 on the line.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers, times, breeding lines, and connections.

Racing resumes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday with a 5:35 pm (CST) first post.  Four trials for the Evangeline Downs Derby highlight the card. The Quarter Horse season runs through December 20.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.