Noe Castaneda piloted Ajs Louisiana Chick to victory in the $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational Stakes on Saturday at Evangeline Downs

© Hodges Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–DECEMBER 21, 2024–As one of only two fillies on the full field of ten, Ajs Louisiana Chick scored her second career victory in the $50,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Saturday.

After a bumped start, Ajs Louisiana Chick quickly regained composure and determinedly took to the lead by the final stretch, winning the 400-yard stakes by a neck. The post-time favorite clocked an 84-speed index with a six mph tailwind in 20.138 seconds.

Noe Casteneda, who rode Ajs Louisiana Chick to victory, leads the jockey charts at Evangeline Downs with the highest percentage of wins per mount. Their winning effort paid $8.80 to win on 3-1 odds.

The fastest qualifier from the trials, Estrellas Blue Jess, ridden by Ali Rivera, fought hard but just missed at the wire for second. Tc Scootin Aces and jockey Arnulfo Gutierrez ran just behind Estrellas Blue Jess for the second consecutive time, placing third.

Trained by Larry Keith, Ajs Louisiana Chick has lit the board six of nine starts with a record of 2-2-2. Breaking her maiden in May at Delta Downs, the daughter of leading sire Jess Louisiana Blue now has two wins, and tonight's $30,000 payday boosted her earnings to $53,145.

Breeder Arnold Trahan sold Ajs Louisiana Chick to her current owner, Joseph Boyd Landreneau, for $16,500 in last year's LQHBA Yearling Sale. She is out of the Ajs Fast Dash stakes-placed winning mare Ajs Corona Chick, whose dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Oak Hill Streak and Maxed Out Game.

Runner-up Estrellas Blue Jess has two wins and two seconds from five starts with $25,935 in the bank. Tom Selman, Sr. bred and owns the son of Jess Louisiana Blue. Shawna Webster conditions the gray gelding out of Corona De Estrellas by Corona Cartel.

Trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. saddled third-place finisher Tc Scootin Aces for owner Rafael Brown. The multiple stakes finalist by Tee Cos has one win from ten starts and $27,620 in earnings. Riley Blanchet bred the $13,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate out of Scooters Debutant by Heza Motor Scooter.

Mda Demand By Tlc, Fearless Eagle Z, Dropping Dimes, American Blood, Blue Castle, Zoom Train and Poppys Last Train complete the order of finish.

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About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one-mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space, including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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