News - Racing March  28, 2024

Love The Way You Fly(s) In LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile Invitational


Love The Way You Fly, under jockey John Hamilton, winning the $40,000-Guaranteed LQHBA Million Juvenile Invitational Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 7, 2019—The $40,000 LQHBA Invitational featured a gate-to-wire romp for Love The Way You Fly. Jockey John Hamilton got the sorrel colt right out of the gate on top and never looked back, winning by a length over the hard-charging Jess Tolltac in a final time of :19.758 seconds for the 400-yard distance, equaling a speed index of 93.

Love The Way You Fly was bred in Louisiana by Copper Spring Ranch, LLC. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Todd Matte and trained by Trey Ellis. Matte paid $50,000 for Love The Way You Fly at the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale in Kinder, Louisiana.

He is by multiple stakes sire Furyofthewind and is out of the Grade 1 winning Tempting Dash mare, Lovethewayyoulie, winner of the 2014 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park. Love The Way You Fly has now won two of six lifetime starts and the $24,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $40,408.

The winning connections of Love The Way You Fly accept the LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile Invitational stakes trophy on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.
© Coady Photography
Jess Tolltac, a daughter of Jess An Idea, earned $8,000 for second. Jose Carrizales conditions the sorrel filly for owner J. and J. Stables LLC. Juan Bazaldua bred Jess Tolltac from the Toast To Dash mare Toast To Tolltac. Ridden by Ricardo Hernandez, Jr., she has earned $30,570 this season.

Swamp Eagle, a son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash from the One Famous Eagle mare Gee Whit, finished a head back in third to pick up $4,400 for owner Fausto Mendoza. Fructuoso Huitron trains the sorrel gelding bred by David Dunn. Swamp Eagle was ridden by Pedro Espinosa and has earned $12,755.

Rdd Empire Builder, Jrs Coronas Toast, One Fast Perry, Bad N Boujee and Taylor Made Cartel competed the field. Good Timing and Runaway Second Down were scratched.

Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume on Wednesday night with an eight-race program. Post time on Wednesday will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at 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 & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or evangelinedowns.com.


Courtesy Ses