A Secret To Catch Posts Upset In The $20,000 Evd Dash

A Secret To Catch (#5) gets up to win the $20,000 EVD Dash on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—SEPTEMBER 30, 2023—A Secret To Catch was up in the final strides to capture the first stakes of the season in the $20,000 EVD Dash on Saturday night.  The race for three-year-olds and upward was contested over a fast track at the 220-yard distance.

Cwfasttrack was away well from her post nearest the rail, with Ab Chalalo, A Secret To Catch and San Lorenzo Dash also away in good order.  Cwfasttrack held the advantage until the final yards as Ab Chalalo and A Secret to Catch surged forward.  

A Secret To Catch was up in the final jumps to win the photo finish over a host of challengers.

The winning connections of A Secret To Catch accept the EVD Dash Stakes trophy on Saturday night.
© Coady Photography

A Secret To Catch, trained by Jaime Gonzalez, completed the distance in :11.999 seconds in a blanket finish.  Cwfasttrack and Ab Chalalo were a nose back in a dead-heat for second, with just a neck back to favored San Lorenzo Dash in fourth.  The winner earned a speed index of 88.

Owned by J. W. Owens, A Secret to Catch earned $12,000 in capturing his first stakes victory.  The win is his third from 10 career starts and his career bankroll grows to $34,447.

A Secret to Catch was bred in Oklahoma by Pine Ridge Farm LLC.  The bay 3-year-old was sired by champion Hez Our Secret and is out of the Corona Cartel mare Too Tiny To Quit.  The winner was purchased at the 2021 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in 2021 for $12,500.

Cwfasttrack and Ab Chalalo dead-heated for second, earning $3,100 each.

Gregory Williams trains Cwfasttrack, a 4-year-old daughter of multiple stakes sire Mr Ease Cartel, for owner Ocie Lee Charles, Jr. Rene Hernandez had the riding call aboard the $78,758 earner.  Cecil Walker bred the brown filly from the Heza Fast Dash mare Bt Sheza Baby Spoon.

Louisiana-bred Ab Chalalo races for owner Rosendo Valdez and is conditioned by trainer Fernando Valdez. David Alvarez rode the Apollitical Blood gelding from the Walk Thru Fire mare Chalalita. Bred by Rancho El Cabresto, Inc., Ab Chalalo has earned $33,871,

Leading a longshot brigade, A Secret to Catch returned $37.20 to win, $12 to place and $7.20 to show.  In the dead-heat for second, Cwfasttrack paid a handsome $17.20 to place and $16.20 to show, while Ab Chalalo paid $5.60 and $8.20.

San Lorenzo Dash, Jla Indy Rogue, Spicey One, Fast Dash Fortune and El Camino Cl completed the field.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:35pm first post.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 16.  

For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at https://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing.

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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.

Louisiana Million night on December 16th highlights the 46-day 2023 Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs.