Tf Jess A Eagle Captures First Stakes Victory In The $19,400 Evangeline Downs Dash Stakes

Tf Jess A Eagle, ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez, wins the $19,400 Evagneline Downs Dash Stakes on Saturday.

© Hodges Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–OCTOBER 5, 2024–It came down to a photo finish, but Tf Jess A Eagle prevailed, scoring his first career stakes win Saturday evening in the $19,400 Evangeline Downs Dash Stakes.

Leonardo Rodriguez got the leg up aboard Tf Jess An Eagle in the 220-yard dash. The son of One Dashing Eagle clocked a 94-speed index with a six mph tailwind in 11.882 seconds. The slight upset over heavy favorite Patty Wagon Train paid $13.60 to win on 5-1 odds.

Ridden by Bobby Ransom, Patty Wagon Train chased Tf Jess A Eagle, placing second by a nose. Back Country and jockey Martin Osuna followed in 2 1/4-lengths back for third, with Onemorewildtrain and Guadalupe Lucio, Jr closing the order of finish in fourth. Jes Winnin Cartel and Tf Jess Doing Curls were scratched.

Trainer Barbara Alcantara saddled Tf Jess A Eagle for her first stakes win of the season. Owner Jose Rodriguez and JC Racing Stables, LLC purchased him for $26,000 in the LQHBA Yearling Sale from Tate Farms, who bred him from the Sir Runaway Dash mare Tf Jess A Runaway in Louisiana.

The three-year-old gelding has a record of 4-2-4 from 18 starts, including a fourth-place finish in the Flying Breed Stakes at Delta Downs this summer. The $12,000 payday from today's victory improved Tf Jess A Eagle's bankroll to $79,020.

Trainer Orlando Orozco saddled post-time favorite Patty Wagon Train, who just came off a win in the French Quarter Stakes last month. The daughter of BP Wagon Train has seven wins from 22 starts and $162,910 in earnings for owner John Sargent. Steven P. Miller bred the three-year-old filly in Louisiana out of Pattymegone by Game Patriot.

Trainer Santiago Villaseca conditions third-place finisher Back Country for owner Victor Garcia. Jim Streelman and Bill Dale bred the son of FDD Dynasty in Missouri out of Imaqtpie by One Famous Eagle. The three-year-old gelding has two wins from 11 starts with $36,548 in earnings.

Riley Blanchet bred Onemorewildtrain in Louisiana. The son of Freighttrain B lit the board 13 of 18 starts with six career wins and $174,916 in earnings for owner Jose Carlos Lopez, including the Lakeview Dash Stakes last month. Leonel Hernandez trains the four-year-old gelding out of One More Card by Carters Cartel.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:35 pm first post.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 21.  

For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at https://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing. Evangeline Downs information can be found on Twitter @EVDracing and Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

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About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one-mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space, including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.