OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 26, 2021—Graded stakes winner El Camino Cl got his first win this season when he defeated Supa Five Bar by three-quarters to set the fastest time for the LQHBA Breeders' Derby(RG3) Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the Louisiana racetrack on Saturday, December 18th to vie for the $96,384 winner's share of the $216,594 purse going 400 yards.

Under jockey Noe Castaneda, El Camino Cl was in control throughout from the outside post to set the top qualifying time of :19.741 seconds, a 91 speed index on a showery racing surface.

Trainer Jose Sanchez, III saddled the son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash for owner-breeder Delfino Lozano IV. Bred from the Mr Jess Perry mare Eying Miss Perry, El Camino Cl has won six of 12 career starts and banked more than $270,670. He won the Mardi Gras Futurity(G1) and qualified for the Lee Berwick Futurity(G1), LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) and Laddie Futurity(RG2) at 2.

Fireintheblood bobbled the break under jockey Noe Castaneda but recovered nicely to get the second fastest time in the final trial while defeating He B Swift by half-a-length. The son of leading third-crop sire Apollitical Blood completed the 400 yards in :19.886 seconds, a 91 speed index.

Trainer Leonel Hernandez saddled the 3-year-old gelding to his second career win in eight starts for owner Alberto Perez Salazar. Bred by William E. Smith, Fireintheblood was sixth in the Delta Downs LA Bred Derby(RG3) in his last start, July 31st. He has earned $20,732.

Trainer Trey Ellis was the only trainer with multiple derby qualifiers, 9th fastest Runaway Fast Dash and 10th fastest Jessalilbit. Apollitical Blood sired three of 10 finalists, also getting 4th fastest Black Blood and 5th fastest Apollitical High. Sir Runaway Dash had two finalists, 7th fastest Sir Louisiana Dash and 9th fastest Runaway Fast Dash.

For the complete list of LQHBA Breeders' Derby-RG3 qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Evangeline Downs will change the race calendar when racing resumes next week. Tuesdays will be added for the next two weeks. First post is at 5:35pm (CST). 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.