Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeder Association

News - Racing April 19, 2024

Cant Catchacorona Wins The Opelousas Stakes At Evangeline Downs

Cant Catchacorona, under jockey Everardo Rodriguez, winning the $40,000 Opelousas Stakes (RG2) on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 9, 2019—It isn’t that often that a horse trained by the leading trainer and ridden by the leading rider in a season can fetch a price of 17-1, but that is exactly what happened in the $40,000 Opelousas Stakes (RG2) on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

Cant Catchacorona, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and ridden by Everardo Rodriguez, was sent off at those long odds and won by a neck in a final time of :17.358 seconds for the 350-yard distance, equaling a speed index of 102.

The grey gelding had an excellent start from the outside post in the field of 10 and was able to overtake the 8-5 post time favorite, Dlj Imma Be Famous, who had broken on top, in the late stages of the race. Mag 1, who earlier this season won a division of the Evangeline Downs Dash, finished third after getting bumped at the start.

Cant Catchacorona, a 4-year-old gelding was bred in Louisiana by Jim and Natalie Montgomery and is owned by T.M. Ranch. Cant Catchacorona is by Coronas Leaving You and is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare, In The Open. He has now won five of 16 lifetime starts and the $24,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $105,731.

Runner-up Dlj Imma B Famous earned $8,000 for second. Alberto Solis conditions the Coronas Leaving You gelding for owner Myron McKinnon. Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. rode the bay gelding out of Yugo Buds by Strawflyin Buds. Donald Henderson is the breeder.

Mag 1 races for owner Mag 3 Racing and is trained by Katie Carlos. The son of Mr Jess Kue from the Oak Tree Special mare Oak Tree Chic earned $4,400 to boost his earnings mark to $68,300. H & M Racing is the breeder and Damin Martinez had the riding assignment.

Cant Catchacorona paid $36.20 to win, $12.40 to place and $6.60 to show. Dlj Imma Be Famous returned $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show, while Mag 1 paid $2.60 to show.

Corona Down Perry, The Cazador, Beau Jackson Gunna B Alright, Heza Made Man, Dashing For the Money and Lighemupwithcharm completed the field.

Live racing at Evangeline Downs will resume on Wednesday night with a nine-race program. Post time on Wednesday 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.

LQHBA is the official authorized representative of the American Quarter Horse racing and breeding industry in Louisiana, the unified voice of quarter Horse breedings in the State of Louisiana for purposes of communicatting the advantages and rewards of breeding Quarter Horses in the State and for the purposes of a conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing agencies.