$1 Million LQHBA Breeders Futurity Saturday at Evangeline Downs
On October 29, Evangeline Downs held 15 trials for the $1 million LQHBA Breeders Futurity (RG1). This Saturday, November 19, a compelling field of nine accredited Louisiana-breds will return to compete in the richest Quarter Horse race in Louisiana.
This has been a very rewarding race for Louisiana horsemen who have often purchased yearlings at a very modest price at the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and seen their investment pay off in a big way! Saturday's champion will earn a record $446,000, which in Quarter Horse racing, is a very big check! Last year's champion, Jess A Saint sold for $10,000 and has already bankrolled $512,000. 2014 winner, Jls Dashn And Zoomn, a $7,500 purchase at the 2013 LQHBA Yearling Sale, provided a very nice return on that investment with career earnings of $529,764.
This has been a very rewarding race for Louisiana horsemen who have often purchased yearlings at a very modest price at the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and seen their investment pay off in a big way! Saturday's champion will earn a record $446,000, which in Quarter Horse racing, is a very big check! Last year's champion, Jess A Saint sold for $10,000 and has already bankrolled $512,000. 2014 winner, Jls Dashn And Zoomn, a $7,500 purchase at the 2013 LQHBA Yearling Sale, provided a very nice return on that investment with career earnings of $529,764.
Rdd Lajollanfastdash goes for his third futurity of the year on Saturday night
So the trend may very well continue this year as the fastest qualifier and morning line favorite, Rdd Lajollanfastdash, was purchased for just $10,000 at last year's LQHBA Yearling Sale.
Raul Ramirez, Jr., who has won this stakes two years in a row, will pilot Rdd Lajollanfastdash for trainer Jose Sanchez. The son of leading Louisiana stallion Heza Fast Dash has already won the Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs and the LQHBA Sale Futurity at Fair Grounds on September 3.
Trainer Michael Taylor has two finalists: Lassie Futurity winner, Louisiana Jewels, owned by Harlow Stables LLC and Ten for Ten LLC's Tellem Im Pumped. Miguel Rodriguez, who conditioned both 2011 champion Rapid Transit and last year's winner, Jess A Saint, will saddle eighth-fastest qualifier, Oak Almighty.
Texas-based horseman Bobby Martinez won the 2012 edition of the stakes with Open Me A Corona, the first time it was run as a seven-figure final. He will have another shot this year with Narcisco Flores' homebred, Gone Swingin. The Swingin Jess colt won the second trial under Damian Martinez in the fourth-fastest time of :19.777.
Dragon N Panther was an impressive winner in the $281,007 Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs in May and was the fifth-fastest qualifier. He is trained by Saul Ramirez, Jr., who will give a let up to his brother, J.R. Ramirez in the 400 yard feature.
The Ramirez brothers celebrate the victory by Dragon N Panther last May at Delta Downs
Post time for the Saturday, November 19th card at Evangeline Downs is 5:35 pm (Central). In addition to the seven-figure futurity, two additional stakes will be contested. The sixth race is the $50,000 LQHBA Breeders Juvenile, and race seven is the $264,398 LQHBA Breeders Derby.
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