OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 20, 2021—Alejandro Sanchez, Jr.’s Steam Rollyr was an impressive winner of The Gentilly Dash at Evangeline Downs Saturday night. The $25,000 stakes for 3-year-olds and up was contested over a fast track at the distance of 300 yards.

Jockey Everardo Rodriguez had Steam Roller out sharply and they were in control from the outset. The Rosendo Valdez, Jr. runner was in high gear from the start and was widening his lead when he hit the finish line. Love the Way You Fly chased the winner with a smooth trip and Jess B One rallied from a sluggish start to finish third.

The winning margin was three-quarters of a length, with another half-length separating second and third. On Point, one of the wagering favorites, broke through the gate before the start of the race, ran off, and was a late scratch.

Steam Rollyr covered the distance in :15.174 seconds. The time earned a 103 speed index. The 4-year-old earned $18,00 for the first stakes victory of his career. The win is the fifth from 14 career starts and increased his career bankroll to $82,955.

Bred in Louisiana by Marco Ramirez and Gary Hartstack, the brown gelding was sired by Freighttrain B and is out of the Dashin Bye mare Jen Tilly.

Runner-up Love The Way You Fly, a graded stakes winning son of Furyofthewind races for owner Todd Matte and is conditioned by Trey Eilis. Under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. the 4-year-old colt picked up $6,000 to boost his bankroll to $187,761. Copper Spring Ranch LLC bred Love The Way You Fly from the Tempting Dash mare Lovethewayyoulie.

Steam Rollyr rewarded backers with $11.20 to win, $4.80 to place and $3 to show. Wagering favorite Love the Way You Fly paid $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Jess B One paid $2.60 to show.

Jess B One earned $2,750 for this third-place effort. Eric Long sent out the 4-year-old Pyc Paint Your Wagon gelding for owner Gene Cox. Bred in Oklahoma by Homer Hill, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess B Might, Jess B One won the Evangeline Downs Derby last year and earned $206,800.

Heza Bell Perry Jr, Five Bar Miracles, Powerhouse Cartel, Melas Miracle and Domniksmiraclebaby completed the field. Jp Tempting Runaway and On Point (Gate) were scratched.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:35pm first post. Evangeline Downs will be dark on Thanksgiving. Racing returns Friday with 13 trials for the $1,000,000 Louisiana Million and a special early first post time of 4:35pm. The Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse season runs through December 30.

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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 and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.