Racing


Special Politico Is The Fastest Qualifier For $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity
Special Politico, under jockey Luis Vivanco, setting the fastest qualifying time from 14 trials Friday night at Evangeline Downs for the $1 million LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity.

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Special Politico Is The Fastest Qualifier For $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 15, 2019—Evangeline Downs hosted 14 qualifying trials for the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1) on Friday night and owner Oddel Batista’s Special Politico posted the fastest run of the night with a time of :19.475 for the 400 yards in the seventh race on the program. That time equaled a speed index of 101 over the fast track with Luis Vivanco in the saddle.

Special Politico has now won three of his five lifetime starts and was able to turn the tables on Ed O, a son of multiple stakes sire Mr Piloto who had beaten Special Politico in a trial for the LQHBA Sale Futurity (G1) at the Fair Grounds on August 17. Ed O finished second in the seventh trial on Friday night, a length behind the winner.

Bred in Louisiana by Jim and Natalie Montgomery, Special Politico is a 2-year-old gelding by a leading first-crop sire Apollitical Blood, out of the Eyesa Special mare, Sweetness Special. He is trained by Miguel Rodriguez.

In addition to having the fastest qualifier for the final, trainer Miguel Rodriguez won two other races on the Friday program. Rodriguez scored in the very first trial of the night with A Quick Jewel, who did not qualify for the final. He also had a win in the 12th trial of the night with Mardi Gras Paint, a son of first-crop sire Paint Me Perry, who did make the final with the third-fastest time of :19.562 seconds.

Each of the 14 LQHBA Louisiana Million trials offered a purse of $10,000 and the winner’s share in the $1,000,000 final will be $445,000. The LQHBA Louisiana Million final will be run at Evangeline Downs on Saturday, December 7.

Multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue got three qualifies included 2nd fastest Lifeinthefastlanes, 6th fastest Rh Jess Momo and 9th fastest Jess Redwhiteandblue.

CLICK HERE for the 10 finalists for the LQHBA Louisiana Million, along with their connections.

The second 10 fastest qualifiers are preferred invites to the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Juvenile. CLICK HERE for that list.

Racing will resume at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night with a nine-race program that will include three trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby. Post time on Saturday will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

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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 & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or evangelinedowns.com.