Three Louisiana Champions Day Stakes Slated for Saturday, December 21 at Evangeline Downs

OPELOUSAS, LA–DECEMBER 17, 2024–A total of nine stakes will be contested Saturday, December 21 at Evangeline Downs. The closing night card will get underway at a special post time of 4:35 pm (Central) and will culminate with running of the richest race in Louisiana, the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1).

Last Saturday, Fair Grounds in New Orleans conducted Louisiana Champions Day saluting Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds in seven stakes on the main track and turf. Three Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Stakes will take place once again this year at Evangeline Downs with full fields drawn for the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby and $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic.

$100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile

Two-year-old accredited Louisiana-breds will compete at a distance of 350-yards with San Lorenzo Princess, at odds of 2-1, breaking from the rail under jockey Leonardo Rodriguez. The filly by Apollitical Blood out of the Corona Cartel mare Princess of Torts was bred by Darrell Williams and was purchased at the 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale for $40,000 by Rogelio Marquez, Jr. She broke her maiden at first asking in her Lassie Futurity trial at Delta Downs, finishing second in the May 24 final. Trained by Jeremy Derozin, she has won three of her six starts with earnings of $93,892.

Williams also bred Uuzzii, a Freightrain B gelding by Bp One Sweet Policy (One Sweet Jess), who was the runner-up in the $459,000 Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) at Louisiana Downs for owner 2 Kings Racing, LLC. Adrian Huitron trains the brown gelding who drew post position six and will be ridden by Ali Rivera.

San Lorenzo Firulais, also owned by Marquez,Jr. had his three race-win streak halted in his most recent start, a trial for the LQHBA Louisiana Million on November 29. Bred by Teddy L. Berry, the Carters Cartel colt was victorious in the $550,774 LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) on September 14 at Fair Grounds. The high earner in the field ($26,621), also trained by Derozin, will be ridden by David Alvarez.

The Louisiana Champions Juvenile will run as the sixth race on the card with an approximate post time of 6:40 pm (Central).

$100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby(RG3)

Gbh Fiscal Toni leads a field of accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds in the 400-yard Louisiana Champions Derby. The son of the Fiscal Cliff out of the Streakin La Jolla mare Streakin for Toni was bred by Gary W Hartstack and owned by Hartstack, Marco X. Ramirez and John Bond.Trained by Jose Sanchez, this will be the 14th career start for the sorrel gelding, who has won his last two 440-yard races at Evangeline Downs. Rider Cesar Segura has the return call from his rail post at odds of 7-2.

Wilson One Consulting, LLC’s homebred Apolitical Queen is seeking her fifth career victory for trainer David Bustamante. Sired by Apollitical Blood out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Dianas Queen Bee, she won the $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes on July 15 at Delta Downs and was the runner-up in the $50,000 French Quarter Stakes on September 7 at Fair Grounds. Jockey Francisco Garcia, Jr., currently fourth in the Evangeline Downs jockey standings, has the call aboard the gray filly.

Moonin Princess is one of two in the field trained by Alex P. Clark. Bred by Darell Williams, the filly by Moonin the Eagle out of Princess of Torts by Corona Cartel is a $14,000 LQHBA Sale graduate owned by Efrain Ortiz. She completed the exacta in the $101,000 Mardi Gras Oaks earlier this year at Louisiana Downs and captured the $50,000 Treme Derby at Fair Grounds on August 17. Her record stands at 18-4-8-0 and earnings of $104,219. Jockey Yaidel Rodriguez will pilot the brown filly from post position 9.

Clark will also saddle B a Lady, a $45,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale purchase by Jose Estrada Quarter Horses. Bred by Jim and Natalie Montgomery, the daughter of Freighttrain B by the Apolitical Jess mare Miss Zoomin Lady exits a victory in a $21,000 allowance on October 12 at Evangeline Downs under rider Jose Rodriguez, who has the return call.

$100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic(G2)

The final Louisiana Champions Day stakes is the 440-yard Louisiana Champions Day Classic, which will run as the eighth race on the program.

One Sweet Boss, bred and owned by Flying K Ranch LLC, is a 6-year-old son of One Sweet Jess and has been on a roll in the last six months for trainer Phillip Calais, Jr. He won the $50,000 MidCity Stakes(G3) at Fair Grounds in front-running fashion and was second by a neck in the Opelousas Stakes at Evangeline Downs last month. The gelding, out of the Rakin in the Cash mare Starlight Bess is nearing the $200,000 mark as he makes his 32nd lifetime start. Current leading rider Arnulfo Gutierrez has the call and will break from post 8 as the 5-2 morning line choice.

John T. Sargent’s Patty Wagon Train has finished in the money in six of her nine starts this year for trained Orlando Orozco. Bred by Steven P. Miller, the 4-year-old mare by Bp Wagon Train out of the Game Patriot mare Pattymegone, won the $50,000 French Quarter Stakes at Fair Grounds on September 7. This will be her first attempt at 440 yards. Rider Ubaldo Luna has the call.

La Herradura Racing LLC’s One Dashing Dove will break from the rail under jockey Luis Vivanco. Bred by Phil Guilbeau and Randy Morein. The 4-year-old son of One Dashing Eagle will make his 27th lifetime start for trainer Guadalupe F. Tristan. Sold for $16,000 at the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale, he has won four career races and exits a fourth-place finish in the Opelousas Stakes.