Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr Prevails in Blanket Finish in the $35,000 Leverne Perry Stakes at Evangeline

JJ Heza Fast Dash Jr, ridden by Ricardo Hernandez, Jr wins the $35,000 Leverne Perry Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–DECEMBER 16, 2023–Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr edged clear to win the $35,000 Leverne Perry Stakes on Louisiana Champions night at Evangeline Downs.

Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr ($24.60) and Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. crossed the wire in :13.165 and earned a 94 speed index in the 250-yard race for 3-year-old and up Louisiana-breds.

Jose Carrizales trains Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr. “I knew coming into this race he would get the job done. Took him a while to get running, but I think he liked the track,” Carrizales said of the sloppy and sealed surface.

The 5-year-old Heza Fast Dash gelding is owned and bred by J & J Stables, LLC, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Forever Real. The graded stakes winner added $21,000 to his lifetime earnings of $173,638 and picked up his seventh career victory.

The winning connections of JJ Heza Fast Dash Jr accept the $35,000 Leverne Perry Stakes trophy at Evangeline Downs on Saturday. © Coady Photography

Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr won the Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2) at Delta last year and is multiple stakes placed, including a third-place finish in the Mid City Stakes (RG3) this fall.

Sassy Pink Cartel defeated Jeg Fascination by a nose to finish second in her first stakes appearance. The 5-year-old mare was ridden by Luis Vivanco for trainer John Fox and owner John Fox, Sr.

Amy Faul bred Sassy Pink Cartel, by Carters Cartel and out of the Corona Cocktail mare Heartoheart Special. She has earned $49,900 in 14 lifetime starts and two wins and has finished first or second in her last nine starts.

Post-time favorite Jeg Fascination finished third under Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. for trainer Jose Espinosa. The 3-year-od Freighttrain B filly is a homebred for Jesus Eden Garcia.

Jeg Fascination has earned $148,212 in 17 starts with five wins. She has qualified for multiple stakes, including the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) and the TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2).

She is out of the stakes placed mare Ja Fascination, by Mr Jess Perry.

Cwfasttrack was fourth, followed by Jes Winnin Cartel, Eyemax, Ab Chalalo, Jla Indy Rogue, Rdd Empire Builder and Jl Apollitical Miss.
 

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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 in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.