OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 23, 2019—Evangeline Downs hosted five qualifying trials for the $137,020 Evangeline Downs Derby on Saturday night and the fastest qualifier was The Grand Legend.

The gelding overcame a sluggish start in his trial to roar home to a convincing 1-3/4 length victory in a time of :19.581 seconds for the 400-yard distance over the fast track, equaling a speed index of 97.

The Grand Legend has now won five of 11 lifetime starts and the $3,000 first-place purse on Saturday night increases his lifetime earnings to $44,309.

Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, LLC, The Grand Legend is a 3-year-old gelding by FDD Going Grand, out of the Tres Seis mare, Legendary Seis. He is owned by Lifes Good Racing Partners, LLC, trained by James Padgett II and was ridden to victory by Rodrigo Vallejo.

Ricardos Cartel ran the best race of her career under jockey Kelsi Purcell to get the second fastest time of :19.699 seconds, a 95 speed index, in closing trial. John Stinebaugh trains the Texas homebred for owner-breeder Richard Scott.

It was the second win in seven starts this year for the Carters Cartel filly who broke her maiden at Ruidoso last June. She is out of the Feature Mr Jess mare Miss Shivers.

Coming off a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Derby on October 5, Sumokeonthewater was a half-length winner in the opening trial to get the third fastest time of :19.716 seconds.

Josue Ponce trains the FDD Dynasty gelding, from the stakes winning County Chicks Man mare Sumokin, for owner Ruse Ranch LLC. Bred in Arkansas by Corner K Quarter Horses LLC, Sumokeonthewater has earned $77,664.

Making only his second start of the season, last year's Evangeline Downs Futurity winner Jordan Eagle finished second in the final trial to the aformentioned Ricardos Cartel to get the fourth fastest time of :19.76 seconds.

The son of leading sire One Famous Eagle entered the trials off second-place effort in the Texas Classic Derby(G1) trials at Lone Star Park October 18. Also trained by Ponce conditions the stakes winning earner of $183,011 for owner Javier Rosique. Weetona Stanley bred the brown colt in Texas from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Pyc Prize Doll.

Two trainers were able to qualify two horses into the Evangeline Downs Derby final. Ponce conditions the third-fastest qualifier, Sumokeonthewater, and the fourth-fastest qualifier, Jordan Eagle. Eduardo Morales handles the seventh-fastest qualifier, Pritty, and the ninth-fastest qualifier, Patriotic Games.

Each of the five Evangeline Downs Derby trials offered a purse of $5,000 and the winner’s share in the $137,020 final will be $68,510. The Evangeline Downs Derby final will be run on Saturday, December 14.

CLICK HERE for the 10 finalists for Evangeline Downs Derby, along with their connections and times.

Racing will resume at Evangeline Downs with a special Tuesday program of eight races. Post time on Tuesday will be 4:30 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.