Ol Time Preacher Man wins $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders Futurity at Evangeline Downs

Opelousas – Ol Time Preacher Man ($15.40) edged past First Prize Jet in the finals strides to win the $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders Futurity for Louisiana bred two-year-old Quarter Horses at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino on Saturday evening. Taking advantage of a perfect tracking trip under jockey Danny Lavergne, the gelded son of Heza Fast Dash recorded the narrowest victory in the richest race of the year at Evangeline Downs. The official winning margin was a nose and the running time for the 400 yards on a track labeled fast was 19.711 seconds.

Winning rider Lavergne stated “I was pretty confident that I had won, but you never know and when they didn’t hang the numbers on the tote board right away I started to get worried.” He added “Everything worked out just right, he broke well and was in contention throughout, when I asked him for his best in mid-stretch he responded and we were able to win the head bob.” For Lavergne, a Lake Charles native who has captured several leading rider titles at tracks in both Louisiana and Texas during his more than three decades in the saddle; it was his first ever win in a Million-Dollar Race.

Philips Streakin was next across the finish in 3rd. Heza Fast Rogue, who led during the opening 200 yards, weakened to 4th, followed by Bradys March Madness and Jessandoldlove in 6th. Oak Tree Eye Opener and Marcys Prize Dashing were 7th & 8th respectively, while Fjr Bread N Butter trailed in 9th after being squeezed back leaving the starting gate. Yagouti was a late scratch.

Ol Time Preacher Man earned $445,000 for the win, his 2nd in six career starts for owner Robert S Holland’s T M Ranch. The victory was the 7th win in this race for his trainer Kenny Roberts, who is the all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer here at Evangeline Downs.

Also at Evangeline Downs on Saturday evening, Trainer Heath Taylor recorded a one-two finish in the $50,000 EVD Derby for three-year-olds with First Prize Shaunda ($15.60) & Ronnie James.
Making only her second start of the year, the daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon surged to the lead in mid-stretch and then just held off her stablemate under strong handling by jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. en route to recording the first stakes win of her career. I See Visions was next across the finish line in 3rd, followed by Fast Talkin Henry and Blaze Carver. The winning margin was a neck and the running time for the 400 yards was 19.812.

Bred in Oklahoma by her owner Weetona Stanley, First Prize Shaunda is out of the excellent racemare First Prize Leesa, who is by Mr Jess Perry. The $30,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted First Prize Shaunda’s career earnings to more than $66,000.