OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 20, 2020—Coming off a fifth-place effort in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) in his last start, Tdz Rolex Rattler ran the biggest race of his career Friday night to the set the fastest qualifying time on the first of two nights of trials for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, five from each night of trials, will return to EVD on December 19th to vie for the winner's share of the $1,000,000 purse, the second of two million-dollar races for state-bred 2-year-olds in Louisiana.

Under jockey Jorge Linares, Tdz Rolex Rattler defeated Fast Dashin Diamond by a nose in the last of seven trial races to set the top mark of :19.772 seconds, equaling a 92 speed index with a 3 mph crosswind. The top three finishers in the final trial recorded the top three qualifying times.

Trainer Rosendo Valdez, Jr. saddled the son of leading sire Freighttrain B to his third win in six starts for owner Rosendo Valdez. The bay gelding has banked $46,731 this season.

"This horse has impressed me since he was a baby; he has run well in each of his starts, but tonight was his best race," Valdez, Jr. said following the win. "We rested him after Delta Downs and his trial for the LQHBA Sale Futurity was his first race back. Our horse is not that big and (Jockey) Jorge Linares told me wasn't sure he could get 400 yards, but he showed us what he could do in this trial."

Tony and Molly Dougtie bred the $8,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate from the First Down mare Rolex Time. This is the same female line of recent LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) winner A Double Corona.

Runner-up Fast Dashin Diamond held on to the second fastest clocking of :19.778 seconds, also a 92 speed index, for owner Mo Racing and champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr.

Bred by Margie Loup, from the FDD Dynasty mare Diamonds R Forever B, Fast Dashin Diamond was third in the aforementioned LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) in her last start. The $25,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate has earned $62,105. Everardo Rodriguez was riding the daughter of leading sire Heza Fast Dash.

Third fastest qualifier, RG1 winner San Lorenzo, finished a head back in the final trial to clock in at :19.793 seconds for owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. Trainer Hector Alcala saddled the Coronas Leaving You colt in his first start since winning the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) on August 22nd.

Jim and Natalie Montgomery bred the brother to champion Open Me A Corona from the Mr Eye Opener mare In The Open. David Alvarez rode the $68,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase who has won three of five starts and earned $548,340 this season.

Ho Lotta Patriot and Black Blood dead-heated in the third trial to tie for the final two spots with a :19.824 clocking, equaling a 91 speed index with a 4 mph crosswind.

It was the third win seven starts for Ho Lotta Patriot, a son of Game Patriot also owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr. and trained by Hector Alcala. Rolando Cabrera rode the $19,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate out of Ho Lotta Speed by Streakin La Jolla. Darrel Williams and Robert Touchet bred the $27,000 earner.

Also a $19,000 LQHBA Sale graduate, Black Blood races for owner Rayne Knight. Trainer Michael Zingelmann named jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. to ride the four-time winner of $32,760.

The son of a leading second-crop sire Apollitical Blood qualified for the RG2 Laddie Futurity in July and has won three consecutive races including his trial for the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1). Erin Chrisman bred Black Blood from the Sweet First Down mare Black Rosalita.

For a list of Night 1's five qualifiers, their times, sires, dams, dam sires, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE .

The second five fastest qualifiers from each night are preferred invites for the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile Invitational to also runback on December 19th. For a list of tonights second five fastest jockeys CLICK HERE .

The final seven LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) trials will be contested on Saturday's EVD race card as races 2 thru 8. In addition the track will host the $35,000 Opelousas Stakes as Race 1 and the LQHBA Breeders' Derby trials, races 9 thru 11. First post is 5:50 (CST).

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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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 & 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.