Heza Louisiana Dash Wins The Amelia Belle Stakes at Evangeline Downs

Heza Louisiana Dash, under jockey Gilbert Ortiz, winning the $30,000 Amelia Belle Stakes at Evangeline Downs Saturday night.

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The gelding proceeded to perform like a betting favorite should, scoring a win by three-quarters of a length over Lets Jess Do It, with Tm Dees Prize another length behind in third.

Heza Louisiana Dash covered the 350 yards in a final time of 17.294 seconds. The main track was listed as fast and the running time equaled a speed index of 105.

This was the eighth win in 18 lifetime starts for Heza Louisiana Dash and it is his first stakes victory since winning the $267,000 LQHBA Breeders Derby in November 2015 at Evangeline Downs. He earned $18,000 for the win in the Amelia Belle, which increases his lifetime earnings to $310,115.

Heza Louisiana Dash is a 4-year-old gelding by Heza Fast Dash out of the Mr. Jess Perry mare, Eyejesslovelouisiana. He is owned by TM Ranch, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and Gilbert Ortiz was aboard. Heza Louisiana Dash was bred in Louisiana by Jumonville Farms/Burnett Ranch.

Lets Jess Do It races for owner Noe Pena and trainer Bobby Martinez. Alfonso Lujan rode the multiple stakes winning son of First Prize Perry from the Separatist mare Lets Separate. The $6,000 runner-up purse boosted the gray gelding's earnings total to $178,020. Easy Acres Performance Horses is the breeder.

Juan Carrillo, Jr. saddled Tm Dees Prize to his third place finish for owner Humberto Amaro. Antonio Alberto rode the Fast Prize Dash 4-year-old out from the Deefirst mare Call Her Dee. Bred by Two The Max Investments LLC, Tm Dees Prize increased his earnings total to over $144,000.

Heza Louisiana Dash was sent off at 1-2 odds by the wagering public and returned $3.00 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Lets Jess Do it paid $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show. Tm Dees Prize paid $2.20 to show.

The sires of the top three finishers, Heza Fast Dash, First Prize Perry and Fast Prize Dash all hail from the same female line going back to all-time leading sire First Down Dash's full sister, First Prize Dash.

In addition to the stakes action at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night, a new track record was set for the 330-yard distance in the second race by Double Barreldoc, who covered the distance in 16.355 seconds, which equals a speed index of 108. This performance eclipsed the old mark of 16.49 seconds set by Jcs Who in October 2014. Double Barreldoc is owned by Jesse Rodriguez, Jr., trained by Miguel Rodriguez and was ridden to the record by J.R. Ramirez.

American Quarter Horse racing action at Evangeline Downs will resume on Wednesday night with a nine-race program. There is a carryover in the 50-cent Super Hi Five wager into the Wednesday program of $675.34. Post time on Wednesday night will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

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/EvanglineDownsRacing.

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

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