Miss Pilotos Train Surges Late To Capture The $30,000 Amelia Belle

Miss Pilotos Train (#7) gets up to win the $20,000 Amelia Belle on Friday night at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—OCTOBER 6, 2023—Miss Pilotos Train and jockey Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. needed every yard to get up in the final jump of the $30,000 Amelia Belle at Evangeline Downs Friday night. 

The stake for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, and restricted to non-winners of a sweepstakes, was contested over a fast track at the 350-yard distance.

One Delightful Tee was away sharply from her post nearest the rail but drifted out early in the running.  Miss Pilotos Train and Five Bar Joy were away in good order, while favored Glamour Dynasty broke outward at the start, hindering her chances. 

One Delightful Tee was trying to take them all the way, but Miss Pilotos Train would not be denied and collared the leader in the final couple of strides.  The winning margin was just a neck, with Glamour Dynasty another half-length back in third.

Trained by Ray Robbins, Miss Pilotos Train covered the distance in a time of 17.736 seconds and earned a speed index of 88.

The winning connections of Miss Piloto Train accept the EVD Dash Stakes trophy on Friday night at Evangeline Downs.
© Coady Photography

Owned and bred by Mike Inscore, Miss Pilotos Train earned $18,000 for her first stake victory.  The win is her fourth from 12 career starts and her career earnings now stand at $73,180.

Miss Pilotos Train is a bay 3-year-old filly sired by Bp Wagon Train, out of the Mr Piloto mare Pilotos Fast Dash.

Trainer Manuel Macias saddled runner-up One Delightful Tea for owner Norma A. Valles.  Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. had the riding call on the Tee Cos mare out of One Eyed Eagle by One Famous Eagle. Bred by Lyle Guillory, One Delightful Tea picked up $6,000 to bring her earnings to $74,910.

Glamour Dynasty, a 3-year-old daughter of Apollitical Blood, earned $3,300 for third. Jockey David Alvarez had the riding call for trainer Leonel Hernandez. Owned by Hernandez and Hector Menchaca, Glamor Dynasty is out of the Swingin Jess mare Glamour Diva. Bred by Narciso Flores the bay filly has banked $33,530 in nine starts.

Miss Pilotos Train returned $12.60 to win, $6.40 to place and $3.60 to show.  One Delightful Tee paid $7 to place, $5.60 to show, with Glamour Dynasty paying $2.80 to show.

Jes Winnin Cartel, Five Bar Joy, Sheza Bell Perry, Louisiana Tequila, One Sweet Rogue and Pretty Piloto completed the field.

Live racing resumes on Saturday with a 5:35pm (CDT) first post.  Three trials for the $25,000-added EVD Open Graduation Stakes highlights the card.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 16.  

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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.