Michael Taylor Saddles Fastest Qualifier For $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders Futurity

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 15, 2015—Evangeline Downs hosted 14 qualifying trials for the 2015 $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders Futurity (RG1) on Friday night and owner-trainer Michael Taylor’s Jet Black Rogue posted the fastest time of the night with a 19.923 clocking in the second race of the night. That time equaled a speed index of 90 over the sloppy track with Joe Badilla Jr. in the saddle.

Jet Black Rogue has now won four of her six lifetime starts. Her first career start was a win in a trial for the Louisiana Lassie Futurity at Delta Downs on April 24. While she ran seventh in the final, that was the only off the board result in her brief career. She earned $4,200 for her victory on Friday, upping her lifetime earnings to $51,230.

Bred in Louisiana by Triple M Farms, LLC, Jet Black Rogue is a 2-year-old filly by Jet Black Patriot, out of the Mr. Jess Perry mare, Miss Jess Rogue.

The star of the evening turned out to be trainer Trey Ellis, who qualified four of the 10 finalists, while also recording four victories on the night. Three of his winners, First Corona Down, Gone Cartel and Toastin With Coronas, made the final, while his other qualifier, Gonzo Compadre, finished third in his trial race.

Two-time futurity winner Jess Louisana Zoom lost her first career start by a head to second fastest qualifier Special Coors Cartel after getting bumped at the break. The Jess Louisiana Blue filly owned by Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc has won four of five starts this year and earned $373,553. Frank Cavazos trains the filly out of Zoomin For Cash, by Azoom. Lyle Guillory is the breeder.

Christian Rubalcava saddled the aforementioned Special Coors Cartel to his third consecutive win for owner/breeder Narciso Flores. David Alvarez rode the Oak Tree Special gelding from the Corona Cartel mare Miss Coors Cartel.

Coronas Leaving Your sired four finalists, Jess Louisana Blue got three and Jet Black Patriot was the only other sire with multiples getting two.

Each of the LQHBA Breeders Futurity trials offered a purse of $7,000 and the winner’s share in the $1,000,000 final on November 28th will be $445,000.

For the complete list of LQHBA Breeders' Futurity finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second 10 fastest qualifiers are preferred invites for the $40,000-Guaranteed LQHBA Juvenile Invitational. For that list CLICK HERE.

Racing will resume at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night with a nine-race program that will include three trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby. Post time on Saturday will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com.