BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 20, 2018—Ramiro Jaime Flores’ Patriotic Games, a graded stakes winning son of First Down Dash, is one of 92 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s 400-yard EVD Futurity trials at Evangeline Downs. Raced in Louisiana and Texas, Patriotic Games has earned $299,158 from seven starts, and his three wins include ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 17, 2018—Two provisional berths to the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions will be up for grabs when a superstar cast of horses led by stablemates Mr Pyc To You, the defending Champion of Champions winner, and 2015 winner Heza Dasha Fire compete in the Z. Wayne Griffin ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 16, 2018—A pair of accomplished Grade 1 winners, BH Lisas Boy and Hold Air Hostage, are among the 11 sprinters entered in Saturday's 440-yard, $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos. A homebred 6-year-old son of Mighty Invictus owned and trained by Bill Hoburg, BH Lisas Boy has been made the 2-1 morning-line favorite by track linemaker Ed Burgart. The gelding has won two graded stakes at Los Alamitos this year, the 400-yard, $157,000 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship (G1) in February, and the 440-yard, $50,000 Bank of America California Championship Challenge (G3) in August. ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 14, 2018—Featuring Fast Jess, a sorrel son of Heza Fast Dash racing for Fernando Ramos, is one of 24 state-bred 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s 400-yard Louisiana QHBA Breeders' Derby (R) trials at Evangeline Downs. Featuring Fast Jess brings in a three-race win streak that includes a three-quarter length victory in the 400-yard, $266,460 Delta Downs Derby (R) on July 7. The gelding drew post 4 ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 13, 2018—Graded stakes winners Eysa Jess Jumpn and Im For Real are among the 123 state-bred juveniles entered in Friday’s 400-yard LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1) trials at Evangeline Downs. Eysa Jess Jumpn is a daughter of Heza Fast Dash trained by Josue Huitron for owner Jose Estrada Quarter Horses. The filly has won her last four races, including the 350-yard, $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 10, 2018—Champion Kvn Corona looks to improve his local record to a perfect 10 for 10 when he starts from post number 10 in the Grade 1, $925,100 Los Alamitos Super Derby at 400 yards on Sunday night. Kvn Corona enters the Super Derby following one of his best races ever at the Orange County track when scoring a ¾ length win in the fastest qualifying time of :19.67 on October 20. Owned by Keith Nellesen of Utah, ...

By Tom Harris PORTLAND, OR—NOVEMBER 10, 2018—In the 4th race on Monday at Portland, Quarter Horses will sprint 870 yards around the "hook" at the Meadows. Though primarily a Quarter Horse event, the morning line favorite of the contest is a Thoroughbred, Ozark Daredevil. Trained by Mary Tate for Bailey & Tate, the five year old son of Portobello Road will be guided by Leonel Camacho Flores. Ozark Daredevil just scored at 870 yards in his last start but must overcome the dreaded outside post in Monday’s dash. BH Country ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI CLAREMORE, OK—NOVEMBER 9, 2018—Three American Quarter Horse stakes, topped by the 440-yard, $266,765 Black Gold 440 Futurity Championship (R), are on the docket when Will Rogers Downs ends its fall meet with a 14-race program on Saturday. Trainer Tammy Johnson will send out two finalists for owner Rockin J Running Horses, topped by 5-2 morning-line favorite Viva Le Don. A homebred son of Rock Solid Jess, Viva Le Don has won two of three starts during the Will Rogers Downs fall meet,including the September 23, ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—NOVEMBER 8, 2018—Apocalyptical Jess, a son of world champion Apollitical Jess and the top-ranked 2-year-old on the AQHA Racing National Poll, drew post 6 for Saturday’s 400-yard, $1,014,657 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park. Trained by Blane Wood for owner Bill T. Robbins, Apocalyptical Jess has earned $1,509,700 from five starts, and his three wins include a three-quarter length victory in the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on September 3. The 9-5 ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 8, 2018—Two Feather Series LLC's Scoopie Jess will make his first start at Los Alamitos since running fifth to AQHA champion 2-year-old J Fire Up in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year when he's one of eight runners in the $25,000 Town Policy Handicap for 3-year-olds at 400 yards on Saturday at Los Alamitos. To be ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer Bret Vickery, Scoopie Jess will make his 2018 local debut after a four-race stint at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. While there, the gelding by ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 8, 2018—Ed Allred’s Better Than Ever lived up to her name when she last raced against allowance competition here on August 25. The daughter of Kiddy Up looks to repeat that performance when she takes on a solid group of 3-year-old fillies in the featured $13,100 allowance in the eighth race on Friday night. ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—NOVEMBER 7, 2018—Hotstepper and Hes Limitless are among the 10 3-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 440-yard, $375,610 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park. Hotstepper is a bay son of One Famous Eagle racing for Johnny D. Cope, R.D. Hubbard, Rafter W Stables, and Henry Southway. The gelding has earned $1,087,261 from 14 starts, and his five wins include a neck victory in the 440-yard, $1.239-million All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on ...

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 6, 2018—Nine Louisiana-bred sprinters, headed by recent stakes winners San Lorenzo Corona and Sweet Bru, have been entered in Saturday’s 400-yard, $40,000 Opelousas Stakes (R) at Evangeline Downs. A 4-year-old son of Coronas Leaving You trained by Jose Luis Sanchez III for owner Rogelio Marquez Jr., San Lorenzo Corona will be making his first start since September 8, when the stallion scored a 1 1/2-length victory in the 440-yard, $40,000 Mid-City ...