EVD Futurity, EVD Derby Headline Stakes-Rich Thursday Card at Evangeline Downs

Fastest qualifier Mr Spud will head a full field in Thursday’s 400-yard $315,080 Evangeline Downs Futurity (G3), as Evangeline Downs to close the meet.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 28, 2021—Fastest qualifier Mr Spud heads a field of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Thursday’s 400-yard, $315,080 Evangeline Downs Futurity (G3), as Evangeline Downs closes the curtain on its fall Quarter Horse meet.

A $7,200 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Mr Spud sports a three-race win streak for his owner Christopher A. Villatoro. The gelded son of The Louisiana Cartel made his local debut with a neck victory in the second of 10 Evangeline Downs Futurity trials on December 3.

Mr Spud has earned $177,821 from six outs, and his win streak includes a neck victory in the 350-yard, $297,000 Firecracker Futurity (G2) at Delta Downs on July 20. The bay gelding drew post 3 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez for trainer Rosendo Valdez Jr.

Other contenders include Smoky Ice, a gray son of Apollitical Blood trained by Rolando Almanza for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC. The second-fastest qualifier, Smoky Ice has banked $89,609 from eight races, and his record includes a second-place finish, a neck behind winner Inspyre, in the 400-yard, $415,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G2) at Lone Star Park in October.

Smoky Ice drew post 6 and will be ridden by Ricardo Garza-Cruz.

The Evangeline Downs Futurity is one of four stakes on the track’s nine-race closing-night program. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

1. Bojanglez (Raul Ramirez Jr.)
2. Jesstice For All (Gilbert Ortiz)
3. Mr Spud (Everardo Rodriguez)
4. Patriot Fireworks (Arturo Alvarez)
5. JLA Indy Rogue (Russell Leblanc)
6. Smoky Ice (Ricardo Garza-Cruz)
7. Swags (Nestor Duran)
8. Sir Streakin Runaway (Juan F. Garcia Jr.)
9. Kas Shes EC (Juan Pulido)
10. No Secret Knockout (Victor Urieta Jr.)

Also, fastest qualifier Denalia Sweet Jess drew post 4 for Thursday’s 400-yard, $153,360 Evangeline Downs Derby for 3-year-olds.

Denalia Sweet Jess is coming off of a clear 2 1/2-length victory in the fourth of six trials on December 4. A $9,000 purchase at the 2019 Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale, the One Sweet Jess colt has earned $78,633 from six starts for his owner, Jose H. Rodriguez.

Denalia Sweet Jess will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez for trainer Rosendo Valdez Jr.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

1. Dashing Jess Cuervo (Arturo Alvarez)
2. Jrs Shiney Tee (Ricardo Hernandez Jr.)
3. One Slick Delight (Victor Urieta Jr.)
4. Denalia Sweet Jess (Everardo Rodriguez)
5. TM Evening Dancer (Ubaldo Luna)
6. TMF Rogue Runner (David Alvarez)
7. EC Fame (Jorge J. Garcia)
8. Diane To Be A Hero (Raul Ramirez Jr.)
9. Blame The Fed (Jose R. Herbert)
10. Louisiana Blue Fire (Juan F. Garcia Jr.)

Rosendo Valdez’s Eyeondaprize will make her first start at the 550-yard distance in Thursday’s $25,000 Evangeline Downs 550 Stakes.

Eyeonadaprize will be stretchin out in distance off of her 1 1/4-length win in the 440-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes (RG2) at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans on December 11. The 4-year-old Fast Prize Jordan mare drew post 6 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez for trainer Rosendo Valdez Jr.

A field of 10 sprinters is entered in Thursday’s 350-yard, $25,000 Sam’s Town Stakes.

Dirtwater Dash, a 3-year-old son of Sir Runaway Dash trained by Rosendo Valdez Jr. for owner Rosendo Valdez, drew post 9 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez. A $12,500 buy at the 2019 LQHBA Yearling Sale, the gelding has earned $120,439 from eight races this season, and he is coming off of a half-length win as the 1-2 favorite in the 400-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG3) at Fair Grounds on December 11.

All Evangeline Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.