LA Million Highlights Stakes Packed Card Saturday Night With Stakes Action And Scholarship Giveaways

Two-time graded winner San Lorenzo Jet will head an action packed night night of racing at Evangeline Downs, including the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(G1) on Saturday.

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OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 13 2022—The Louisiana Million (RG1) is the featured event on the Saturday night card at Evangeline Downs.   The race over the distance of 400 yards is the final event on an eight-race card that is packed with seven stakes races.

San Lorenzo Jet, upset as a 1/5 favorite in his Million trial heat, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite.  The Jesus Marquez trainee has been heavily bet in all five career starts and is looking to capture his third futurity. 

A four-time winner, San Lorenzo Jet was narrowly defeated by Masseto in his first try at the 400-yard distance.  The winner of the Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs and the LA Laddie Futurity at Louisiana Downs will be ridden by J.R. Ramirez in the richest race in the state of Louisiana.

Jess Sea Louisiana, the fastest qualifier in the trials, brings a two-race win streak into Saturday night.  Trained by Raul Galvan and ridden by Ricardo Hernandez, Jr., Jess Sea Louisiana ran an impressive :19.575 seconds winning his trial heat and is the 7/2 third choice. 

Another major contender is the 5/2 second choice on the morning line Tha Duke.  Trained by Ashton Elder and ridden by Arturo Alvarez, Tha Duke was second in qualifying with a time of 19.600 seconds. 

The $216,594 LQHBA Derby (RG3) at 400 yards will go as race seven on the card.  Put Me N Coach, upset in his qualifying run at odds of 8/5, is the 2-1 morning line favorite.  Arturo Alvarez will be in the saddle for the Fernando Valdez trainee. 

The fastest trial qualifier with a time of 19.979 seconds, TF Jess Me, is the second choice at 3-1.  Ultimo Alex and Apollitical Tornado, who upset Put Me N Coach in their trial heat, are other runners that look to have good chances to take the Derby.

The first stakes race of the night is the $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You at the distance of 250 yards.  Sheza Freighttrain T is the 9/5 favorite on the morning line off her recent form.  Dynastys Five Bar, Escandalo and A Political Toast are some of the other contenders in the race.   The Scoopies Leaving You has been carded as race two.

The $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational, for trial runners that did not qualify for the finals, will be contested at 400 yards and goes as race three.  Oh Heez Fast is the 5-2 favorite with Wild Train Fortune, Splishsplash Piloto and Blue Storm Comin among the logical challengers.

Three Louisiana Champions Day stakes races make up the remainder of the slate.  The fourth race, and start of a challenging Pick 5 sequence, is the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile over the distance of 350 yards.  San Lorenzo Jet is the 8/5 morning line favorite, but Cool Ya Jets and Konnan Cartel are among the runners hoping to have a say in the outcome.

San Lorenzo Dash is the 5-2 morning line favorite in race 5 on the card, the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby.  Rm Super Angel, LRH Heart of Glass and JJ Coronas Star look to be among the potential win candidates in the 400-yard test.

Hezaa Fast Boy, a winner of 4 of 6 starts in 2022, is the 2-1 morning line choice in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic.  Lifeinthefastlanes and JJ Heza Fast Dash Jr are other runners that should draw some wagering attention.  The Classic is contested at the distance of 440 yards.

Evangline Downs will welcome regional racing publicist Martha Claussen on Saturday Night.  She will be offering her insight and handicapping selections throughout the evening and conducting post-race interviews.

The final Family Night of the season will take place Saturday.  Face painting, balloon animals, a roaming magician and food truck vendors will be a fun addition to the evening.  The “Pick 7 in the 7th” contest will have a mandatory payout of the jackpot.  Contestants are tasked with trying to pick the first seven finishers of the seventh race in order.  You must be a Boyd Rewards member to enter.

The LQHBA will be sponsoring a scholarship giveaway with five $2,000 scholarships and one $5,000 scholarship to be awarded in a random drawing. 

Registration begins at 4:30pm at the table located in the grandstand on the main floor and closes after the third race.  Louisiana high school seniors graduating in 2023, or students currently enrolled at a Louisiana college or university are eligible.  The drawing will take place after the fourth race and entrants must be present to win.

First post for the Saturday night card is at 5:35pm.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season finishes up with racing on Monday and closing day Tuesday, December 20.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.