OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 21, 2020—Jrs Shiney Tee, a $5,000 repurchase at the LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale last year, broke his maiden Saturday night while setting the fastest qualifying time for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs.

The five fastest qualifiers tonight (Saturday) will join the five fastest from Friday's trials on December 19th to vie for the winner's share of the $1,000,000 purse. The LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1) will be the second of two million-dollar races for state-bred 2-year-olds held in Louisiana this year.

Jockey Gilbert Ortiz piloted Jrs Shiney Tee to an impressive 1-½ length win in the opening trial to get the top qualifying mark of :19.641 seconds, equaling a 95 speed index, the fastest from both nights of racing.

Racing for owner Kathy Goodale and trainer David Bustamante, Jrs Shiney Tee entered the trials off a troubled effort in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) in his last start October 22nd. In his maiden start, the LQHBA Sale Futurity trials, he finished second.

"We always thought we had a good one," Bustamante said following the trial win. "My dad (Johnny) broke him, but we had a little trouble with his shins, so we didn't rush him. He ran a little green in the LQHBA Sale Futurity final, but tonight he broke well and really accelerated. Gilbert has done a great job for us this meet."

Julien R. Stevens III bred the bay gelding from the First To Shine mare Arrangel To Shine. He has earned $30,39 off a (3) 1-1-0 record.

Tee Zo, a $6,500 LQHBA Yearling repurchase, posted the second fastest time of :19.722 seconds, a 92 speed index, off a three-quarter length win in the fourth trial under jockey Leonardo Rodriguez.

Trainer Lanny Keith conditions the bay filly for owner Joseph Landreneau. Bayou Stirling Equine, LLC bred Tee Zo from the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Sayin The Blues. Also a finalist in the aforementioned LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1), Tee Zo has earned $30,975. Heza Fast Dash, was a three-quarter length winner in the sixth trial to post the third fastest clocking of :19.770 seconds, also a 92 speed index. Raul Ramirez, Jr. had the riding call.

Trainer Jose Sanchez III saddled the sorrel colt to his fifth win in seven starts for owner-breeder Delfino Lozano IV. Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare, Eyeing Miss Perry, El Camino Cl won the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) was third in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) and a finalist in the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) this season. He has earned $239,139.

LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) winner A Double Corona posted the most impressive trial win of the night under jockey Jorge Linares. The son of first-crop sire Open Me A Corona, who won the Louisiana Million Futurity himself, clocked the fourth fastest time of :19.778 seconds, also a 92 speed index, off a 2-¾ length winning margin.

Also trained by Jose Sanchez III, the $50,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase races for owners Bobby Barnett and Tommy Hays. Barnett bred the gelding form the Dashin Bye mare Corona Dashin Bye. A winner of three of five starts he has banked $229,933 this season.

Luis Armando Castellanos' Lafitte earned the final qualifying spot off a second place effort to Tee Zo in the fourth trial. The son of multiple stake sire Sir Runaway Dash posted a :19.832 clocking, equaling a 90 speed index.

Trainer Orlando Orozco named jockey Rolando Pina to ride the $4,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase. Bred by L. Casterline and E. Aparicio, from the Streakin La Jolla mare Me And Me Only, Lafitte was fourth in the LQHBA Sale Juvenile Stakes in his last start and has earned $17,860.

For a complete list of 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 those horses CLICK HERE.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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There will be no live racing conducted at Evangeline Downs during the week of Thanksgiving. Live racing will return to Evangeline Downs on Wednesday, December 2. Post time will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

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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.