Blood N Coronas, under jockey Rolando Cabrera, set the fastest time from three trials for the EVD Graduation Stakes (not black type) on Saturday at Evangeline Downs.

© Hodges Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–OCTOBER 12, 2024–Three and four-year-old maidens (as of July 1, 2024) vied for a spot to the $25,000 added Evangeline Downs Open Graduation Stakes (not black type) on Saturday. Blood N Coronas set the time to beat from trial two of three.

Blood N Coronas, ridden by Rolando Cabrera, broke her maiden in 17.971 seconds, clocking an 85-speed index. The four-year-old filly crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Fast Flyin Floozy, who also qualified for the finals. The slight upset paid $10.40 to win on 4-1 odds.

Trained by Xavier Scott, Blood N Coronas got her first win from 27 career starts, and the $3,000 payday increased her earnings to $56,817. The daughter of Apollitical Blood is out of Lil Southern Corona by Coronas Leaving You.

Her breeders, Keith and Kyla Renfro, of Louisiana, repurchased Blood N Coronas for $20,000 in the 202 LQHBA Yearling Sale. She was later sold to her current owner, Cuadra Santa Cruz, LLC.

The second-fastest qualifier, Pyc Royal Time, piloted by Arnulfo Gutierrez, was challenged in trial one but reached across the wire for a head victory over Lrh Jess Shake It Up, who was third fastest. The three-year-old colt clocked an 84-speed index in 17.989 seconds. The victory paid $9.60 to win on 7-2 odds.

Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz saddled Pyc Royal Time for owner Loretta Clarise Gonzalez. The son of Pyc Prize Time broke his maiden earlier in September at Lone Star Park. The $3,000 trial win payout increased his earnings to $32,450 from 16 starts.

Alejandro Moya bred Pyc Royal Time out of Fance Snow by This Snow Is Royal. The Texas-bred colt was an $8,500 repurchase in the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Blood N Coronas and Pyc Royal Time are the only two finalists to break the 18-second barrier in the 350-yard trials.

Sheza Big Diva won the third trial with Javier Hernandez in the irons, setting the fourth-fastest time. Trainer Victor Oviedo saddled the daughter of Big Lew for owner Jose Carlos Hernandez. Bryon Garner bred the three-year-old filly in Texas out of Some Candy Diva by Spit Curl Jess. She broke her maiden in August at Gillespie and now has two wins from 11 starts and $15,614 in the bank.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $25,000 added Evangeline Downs Open Graduation Stakes (not black type)  trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be run on November 2, 2024.
 

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Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:35pm first post.  The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 21. For more information on Evangeline Downs visit the track’s website at https://evangelinedowns.boydgaming.com/racing. Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.  

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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.

Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.