Flying Adelia Springs the Upset in the $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile Invitational at Evangeline

Flying Adelia, under jockey Ubaldo Luna, drives to victory in the $59m999 LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile Invitational at Evangeline Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 18, 2021—Stakes at Evangeline continued on Saturday night as Flying Adelia closed well to win the $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile Invitational, a consolation race for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds that did not qualify to the feature race later on the card.

Flying Adelia ($25.40), with Ubaldo Luna aboard, ran 400 yards over a sloppy track in 19.602 and earned a 95 speed index to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of the field.

LQHBA Executive Director Bruce Salard presents the LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile Stakes trophy to the winning connections of Flying Adelia on Saturday at Evangeline Downs.
© Coady Photography

Margaret McKerley owns and bred the filly in Louisiana, out of the Strawfly Special mare Flying Marguerita.

Flying Adelia finished second in her Louisiana Million trial on November 26 and broke her maiden in her previous start. This was her second stake appearance; she also competed in the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes at Delta in July. She is paid into the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Flying Adelia is two for seven lifetime and has earned $44,720.

Roberts also trained the runner-up, Apolliticalfastlane, a fellow 2-year-old daughter of Apollitical Blood. Apolliticalfastalne is owned by Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc; David Alvarez was aboard for Saturday’s stake. She was bred by Wade Jr. and Kay Loup, out of the Panther Mountain mare Pantherinthefastlane, a multiple graded stakes placed mare.

Apolliticalfastlane qualified to the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) and finished fifth in the final at Delta in July. She was third in her trial to the Louisiana Million, won by second fastest overall qualifier San Lorenzeaux.

Apolliticalfastlane has finished in the money in six of her seven starts and has earned $79,898 to date.

Tf Fearless Runaway finished second in the same trial as Apolliticalfastlane and returned to finish third in the consolation. Everardo Rodriguez rode the Sir Runaway Dash filly for trainer Rosendo Valdez, Jr. and owner Jamie Cardenas.

Tf Fearless Runaway was bred by Tate Farms out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Freda Blue, out of the multiple graded stakes winning mare Fearless Freda. She has earned $36,200 and is two for eight lifetime, including an allowance win at Evangeline and a win in her Lee Berwick trial in July.

Flying Adelia paid a solid $25.40 for the win ticket, $10.40 to place and $5 to show. Apolliticalfastlane returned $5 to place and $2.60 to show. Tf Fearless Runaway was worth $2.40 to show.

Completing the field were Jrs Carter Queen, Sir Thorn Dash, Gamefaceprize, Bakers Big Ol Boy, Freighttrain Game and Blue Dashn. Kk Sandra Patriot was scratched.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

Live racing resumes on Monday with a special 4:05pm (CST) first post. The final two weeks of the season will feature a Monday through Thursday racing calendar. The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 30.