Patriotic Games Headlines EVD Futurity Trials
© Lou Hodges Photographry
OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 20, 2018—Ramiro Jaime Flores’ Patriotic Games, a graded stakes winning son of First Down Dash, is one of 92 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s 400-yard EVD Futurity trials at Evangeline Downs.
Raced in Louisiana and Texas, Patriotic Games has earned $299,158 from seven starts, and his three wins include a head victory in the 350-yard, $363,000 Firecracker Futurity (G2) at Delta Downs on July 4. Last spring, the colt finished second in both the 330-yard, $441,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) in Texas, and the 300-yard, $238,000 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs.
Patriotic Games drew post 7 and will be ridden by John Hamilton in the first of 11 rrials.
Jess Leaving Fast, a stakes winner during the recently concluded Lone Star Park meet, drew post 6 and will be ridden by J.R. Ramirez in the second heat. Trained by Santiago Riojas Jr. for owner Double H Racing Investments LLC, the brown son of Heza Fast Dash is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the 400-yard, $53,000 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes.
Both Patriotic Games and Jesst Leaving Fast were bred in Texas by Bob and Jerry Gaston.
Other prominent 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s trials include Rolando Morales’ Cadilac Cash. An earner of $81,284 from six starts, the FDD Dynasty colt won the 350-yard, $84,000 Gillespie County Fair Firecracker Futurity on July 21.
Cadillac Cash drew post 9 and will be ridden by Eddie Sanchez for trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III in the 11th trial.
The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $100,000-added EVD Futurity trials on December 15.
All Evangeline Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.