OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 16, 2021—Fastest qualifier El Camino CL is one of 10 state-bred sophomores entered back in the 400-yard, $216,594 Louisiana QHBA Breeders' Derby (RG3) Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

Trained by Jose Luis Sanchez III for owner Delfino Lozano IV, El Camino CL is a homebred son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash. The gelding is coming off a wire-to-wire, three-quarter length win in the first of three trials on November 27.

El Camino CL has earned $270,678 from a dozen starts, and his six wins include a neck victory as the 9-5 favorite in last year's 300-yard, $315,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) at Louisiana Downs. The colt drew post 3 and will be ridden by Noe Castaneda.

Other contenders include Rosendo Valdez's Apollitical High, a gelded son of Apollitical Blood and the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Apollitical High has won two state-bred stakes at the 400-yard distance this season, including the March 27, $121,000 Mardi Gras Derby (R) at Louisiana Downs.

Apollitical High drew post 5 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez for trainer Rosendo Valdez Jr.

The complete lineup, in post-position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Sir Louisiana Dash (David Alvarez), 6-1
2. Runaway Fast Dash (Juan F. Garcia Jr.), 20-1
3. El Camino Cl (Noe Castaneda), 3-1
4. Hes Opentosecrets (Aguilar Orozco), 20-1
5. Apollitical High (Everardo Rodriguez), 5-2
6. Supa Five Bar (Arturo Alvarez), 10-1
7. Black Blood (Gilbert Ortiz), 9/2
8. Jessalilbit (Luciano Duenez), 12-1
9. Fireintheblood (Eleazar Rivera Hernandez), 8-1
10. He B Swift (Raul Ramirez, Jr.), 12-1

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Scoopies Leaving You Stakes
Seven Louisiana-bred sprinters are entered in Saturday's 250-yard, $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You Stakes (R). Trainer Trey Ellis will send out morning-line favorite Love The Way You Fly, a 4-year-old Furyofthewind stallion campaigned by Todd Matte.

Love The Way You Fly will be making his first career start at the 250-yard trip, but his season record includes a half-length victory in the July 31, 220-yard Flying Breed Stakes (R) at Delta Downs. Love The Way You Fly drew post 4 and will be ridden by Juan F. Garcia Jr. First post for the Saturday night card is at 5:35pm (CST). The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season continues through December 30.

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First post for the Saturday night card is at 5:35pm (CST). The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season continues through December 30.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at 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.