© Coady Photography
BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI
OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 22, 2021—A total of 119 state-bred 2-year-olds, headed by multiple graded stakes winner Blood Money, are entered in Friday’s 400-yard Louisiana QHBA Million Futurity (RG1) trials at Evangeline Downs.
Post time for the first of 13 trials is set for 4:35 p.m. (CST). The last heat is scheduled to go off at 9:35.
Blood Money has won five of six races and has earned $672,142 while racing exclusively in Louisiana. A $17,000 purchase at last year's Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale, the Apollitical Blood gelding is trained by Rosendo Valdez Jr. for owner Rojas Racing Stables LLC, and his record includes victories in the June 12, $347,000 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) and July 31, $847,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), both at Delta Downs.
Blood Money, a son of leading thrid-crop sire Apollitical Blood, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez in the 11th trial.
Other prominent Louisiana-bred juveniles entered in Friday’s trials include graded stakes winners KK Sandra Patriot, Sheza Fast Blood, and San Lorenzeaux. A brown daughter of Game Patriot trained by Josue Huitron for owner Ruse Ranch LLC, KK Sandra Patriot has earned $160,356 from five races, and she broke her maiden with a neck victory at odds of 14-1 in the March 27, $350,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) at Louisiana Downs.
KK Sandra Patriot drew post 7 and will be ridden by David Alvarez in the first trial.
Sheza Fast Blood was a $15,500 purchase at last year’s Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. A bay daughter of Apollitical Blood trained by Michael Zingelmann for owner Rayne Knight, the filly put together a three-race win streak at Delta Downs that included a clear two-length victory in the 330-yard, $319,000 Louisiana Breeders’ Lassie Futurity (RG2) on June 12.
Sheza Fast Blood drew post 9 and will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz in the ninth heat.
San Lorenzeaux will be stretching out in distance off of his 1 1/2-length win in the 350-yard, $382,000 Louisiana QHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) on October 30. A $29,000 buy at last year’s LQHBA Yearling Sale, the gelded son of champion Carters Cartel is trained by Hector Alcala for owner Rogelio Marquez Jr.
San Lorenzeaux drew post 6 and will be ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr. in the 13th trial.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s trials will meet in the December 18, $1-million LQHBA Million Futurity final.
All Evangeline Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.