Xtra Impresses in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2) at Evangeline

Xtra, guided by Victor Urieta, Jr, won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes (RG2) at Evangeline Downs on Saturday evening.

© Coady Photography

DECEMBER 17, 2022 – OPELOUSAS, LA – Xtra was the impressive winner of the third Louisiana-bred stake of the night at Evangeline, the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2).

Escaping traffic at the start, Xtra ($19.20) pulled clear late in the race to win by a length and a half with Victor Urieta, Jr. in the irons.

The final time for the 350-yard stake was 17.389, giving the winner a 97 speed index.

Xtra won his second consecutive race on Saturday night and notched his fifth career win in eight starts. He added $45,000 to his career earnings of $96,634.

The 2-year-old gelding is owned by Tabasco Racing, LLC and is trained by Josue Ponce.

Xtra was bred by Ryan and Jude Robicheaux, by Apollitical Blood and out of First Lady B, by Jess Louisiana Blue.

The winning connections of Xtra accept the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes (RG2) trophy at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night.
© Coady Photography

The gelding had competed in five trial races but had yet to compete in a stakes race until his victorious effort in the Juvenile. He broke his maiden in his second career start, at Delta, in May.

There was no catching the winner, but Cool Ya Jets made a closing move to get up for second under Benito Jude Baca.

Cool Ya Jets is a 2-year-old daughter of Jet Black Patriot, trained by Kenny Roberts, Sr. for owner Pete Scarmardo. She was bred by Bayou Stirling Equine, LLC, out of the Heza Fast Dash stakes placed mare McM on Thin Ice.

Cool Ya Jets has earned $145,136 in eight starts and three wins; she was second in the LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) and Louisiana Juvenile Stakes and qualified to the Lassie Futurity (RG2).

Toast to Blue was up for second under Gilbert Ortiz for owner and trainer Martin Trejo. The Jess Louisiana Blue colt was bred by Aymond Bates LLC and Manuel Henry, out of the graded stakes winning mare Sante Mon Amie, by Toast to Dash.

Toast to Blue won the LQHBA Sale Futurity Stakes at Delta in September and has also competed in the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes in July. He has two wins and $58,333 from ten starts.

Completing the field were Hes a Fast Blood, Konnan Cartel, San Lorenzo Moon, Jrs Tonyas Majestic, Happy Flyer, Ovation and Rh Senor Milagro.