Racing


Tf Jess Me Splashes Home To Fastest Time In LQHBA Breeders' Derby Trials
Tf Jess Me, under jockey Jockey Jorge Javier Garcia, splashes to the fastest qualifying time for the

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Tf Jess Me Splashes Home To Fastest Time In LQHBA Breeders' Derby Trials

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 26, 2022—Evangeline Downs held two trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby on Saturday night.  The finals for the $179,806 stakes will be contested on Saturday, December 17.

The fastest qualifier for the LQHBA Breeders Derby was the Adrian Huitron trained Tf Jess Me.  Breaking alertly under Jockey Jorge Javier Garcia, Tf Jess Me battled with Ultimo Alex through the first half of the 400-yard trial, before edging clear of that rival in the final yards. 

The winning margin was three-quarters of a length, with a hard charging Mr Fast Mallard another half-length back in third.  Owned by Tex Mex Racing (Ruben Arizpe & Stephen Tate), Tf Jess Me covered the distance in a time of 19.979 seconds over a track rated good and earned a speed index of 86. 

Tf Jess Me is  a son of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess from the First Down Jewel mare Miss Mallard Too. Tate Farms is the breeder.

The win by Tf Jess Me is the fifth from 11 career starts.  With the $6,000 winner’s share, his career bankroll increases to $87,886. The gelding was a $16,000 repurchase in the 2020 LQHBA Yearlings Sale. He was fourth in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) and sixth in the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) last year.

Making just his second start of the year, Apollitical Tornado defeated multiple graded-placed Put Me N Coach by a nose in the second trial to record the second fastest time of :19.984 seconds into a 10 mph crosswind.

Trainer Wendy Garcia named Danie Amaya to ride the son of leading sire Apollitical Blood for owner Rubios Landscaping. Second in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) and a finalist in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) last season Apollitical Tornado has earned $95,715 in nine career starts.

Bred in Louisiana by Narciso Flores, Apollitical Tornado is a 3-year-old sorrel gelding is out of the Steakin La Jolla mare A Real Tornado.  The winner was an $8,000 purchase at the 2020 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale.

For the complete list of $100,0000-added LQHBA Breeders' Derby qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:35pm  (CST) first post.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 20.  

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website 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.