News - Racing March  28, 2024

Shesa Diamond Diva Is Fastest Qualifier For The LQHBA Louisiana Million


Sheza Diamond Diva, under jockey Eddie Sanchez, setting the fastest time for the Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) over Rf Shez Leaving You at Evangeline Downs Friday night.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 17, 2017—Shesa Diamond Diva, a filly owned by Cruz E. Nava, was the fastest qualifier from the 15 trials run on Friday night for the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million.

Shesa Diamond Diva was impressive in winning the eighth trial on the program, covering the 400 yards over the fast track in a final time of 19.743 seconds. That equals a speed index of 96.

Shesa Diamond Diva was one of three winners on the Friday program for trainer Saul Ramirez, Jr. Those three victories came in consecutive races as First Down Achilles’ win in the seventh race and Blue Eyed Fance’s score in the ninth race sandwiched the fastest qualifier. Those two horses were the 11th and 12th fastest qualifiers pushing them into the $40,000 Louisiana Million Invitational.

Eddie Sanchez was aboard for the wins by Shesa Diamond Diva and Blue Eyed Fance, while Raul Ramirez, Jr. had the mount for the victory by First Down Achilles.

Diamondinthefront, under jockey Randy Edison, set the second fastest time in the 11th trial Friday at Evangeline Downs. © Coady Photography
Shesa Diamond Diva was bred in Louisiana by Paul Fontenot, Jr. She is by Struttin to Beduino and out of the Heza Fast Dash mare, Sheza Fortune. Nava purchased the filly at the 2016 LQHBA Yearling Sale for Tate Farms, Agent for Paul Fontenot, Jr. for $9,000.

The win on Friday was her third career victory from six starts, all coming in futurity trials. The $4,200 first-place purse she earned on Friday night increases her lifetime earnings to $51,021.

Trainer Frank Cavazos saddled the second fastest qualifier, Diamondinthefront, for owner/breeder F and K Partnership. The Game Patriot filly was in complete control under jockey Randy Edison when she won the 11th trial by 2-¾ lengths while clocking :19.745 seconds, also a 96-speed index for 400 yards.

You Drive I Fly, under jockey Donald Watson, setting the third fastest time Friday at Evangeline Downs.
© Coady Photography
The bay filly entered the race off a maiden win at Evangeline Downs on October 19th. Out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Very Intriguing, Diamondinthefront was a $13,000 repurchase from the S & E Prepping, Agent for Kenneth Garcia consignment at the LQHBA Yearling Sale.

You Drive I Fly recovered from a slow break under jockey Donald Watson to win the second trial by 1-¾ lengths and post the third fastest time of :19.805 seconds, a 95-speed index.

Leading trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. saddled the son of Jet Black Patriot from the Mr Jess Perry mare Shakemupperry. Second in the RG1 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity in his last start, You Drive I Fly races for owner/breeders Richard Simon and Janell Zachary. He has won three of four starts and banked $145,134 this season.

Feature Fast Jess (#6) defeating fellow qualifier Stormy T (#5) in the 10th trial Friday night. © Coady Photography
Leading sire Heza Fast Dash's Featuring Fast Jess won the 10th trial by a neck over fellow qualifier Stormy T to get the fifth falsest time of :19.874 seconds, a 93-speed index.

Eduardo Morales conditions the gelding for owner Fernando Ramos. A $6,700 LQHBA repurchase from breeders' Jumonville Farms/ Burnett Ranch, Featuring Fast Jess is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Featuringmissjess, a sister to leading sire Feature Mr Jess.

Jrs Taylors Runnaway, under jockey Jorge Linares, winning the 4th trial at Evangeline Friday night.
© Coady Photography
First crop sire Fast Prize Jordan got his first RG1 qualifier in the 12th trial when Fpj Blazen Fast Ryon posted the 8th fastest time of :19.949 seconds, a 91-speed index.

Bred by Spring Hill Farms, from the Blazen Bryan mare Ryons Blazer, the sorrel filly is conditioned by Noe Sanchez and owned by Belinda Chapa and Daisy Sanchez.

Jockey Jorge Linares rode LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) winner Jrs Taylors Runnaway to her fourth straight win in the 4th trial to get the 7th fastest time of :19.943 seconds, a 91-speed index.

Trainer Martin Trejo conditions the Sir Runaway Dash filly for owner Rosalio Espinosa. Bred by Julien R Stevens III, from the Royal Shake Em mare No Matches Tonight, Jrs Taylors Runaway was a $10,000 repurchase in the 2016 LQHBA Yearling sale.

Fpj Blazen Fast Ryon, under jockey Rolando Cabrera, qualifying in the 12th trial at Evangeline Friday night.
© Coady Photography
While Saul Ramirez, Jr. was the top trainer on Friday night with three winners, the riding star on Friday night at Evangeline Downs was Noe Castaneda with three victories as well. Castaneda won the fifth race with Heza Fast Beau, the sixth race with Ho Lotta Game and the tenth race with Featuring Fast Jess, who qualified for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Final with the fifth fastest time of 19.874 seconds.

Game Patriot was the only sire with multiple qualifiers, also getting the 9th qualifier Ima Gone Reba. Other sires getting finalists in the Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) include Coronas Leaving You, 4th fastest Rf Shez Leaving You; Mr. Piloto, 6th fastest Stormy T; and Sizzlin Cartel with the 10th fastest qualifier Eye Am Sizzlin.

Ima Gone Reba, under jockey John Hamilton, wining the third trial at Evangeline Friday night. © Coady Photography
Jumonville Farms, the only breeder with multiple finalist, is the breeder of Eye Am Sizzlin.

The highly anticipated start of undefeated two-time stakes winner Dashnunder Afullmoon came in the 6th trial. The $527,859 earning daughter of leading sire Heza Fast Dash was roughed up from both sides leaving the gate but still finished willing to get fourth place and end up with the 26th fastest time from the 130 starters on Friday night. The brown filly was making her first start since winning the RG1 Lee Berwick Futurity on July 8th.

After winning the opening trial, under jockey Santiago Mendez, Eye Am Sizzlin ended the night on the bubble.
© Coady Photography
Each of the 15 LQHBA Louisiana Million trials offered a purse of $7,000 and the Final will offer a purse of $1,000,000 with the winner earning $445,000. It will be one of four finals to be run on Saturday, December 16 at Evangeline Downs.

For a list of the 10 finalists for the LQHBA Louisiana Million, along with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second ten fastest qualifiers are preferred invites for the $40,000 Louisiana Million Invitational. CLICK HERE for that list.

Racing will resume at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night with a nine-race program that will include three trials for the $316,991 LQHBA Breeders Derby. Post time on Saturday will be 5:35 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.


Courtesy Ses