Opelousas, Louisiana –The Grade I LQHBA Futurity, the richest race in the more than forty-year history of racing in South Central Louisiana with a purse of $517,964, brings the curtain down on one of the most exciting and successful seasons at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino on Saturday, November 25.

The LQHBA Futurity, for two-year-olds bred in Louisiana, will be run at the distance of 400 yards and features a field on nine who advanced from the more than 150 youngsters who took part in a total of 16 trials held three weeks ago. 

Bottle of Shine, who has posted an enviable record of five wins & two seconds from seven career starts, has been installed as the 8/5 morning line favorite. Trained by John Buchanan, the gelded son of First to Shine has bankrolled more than $163,000, almost as much as the rest of the field combined for owner Sylvia Pittman despite suffering his two losses in futurity finals. Juan Vazquez will ride Bottle of Shine, who has drawn post position #4.

First Down Toro & Heza Fast Classic, both runaway winners in their respective trial are both expected to attract plenty of support from the betting public. First Down Toro led throughout in his trial recording his 2nd consecutive win for owners Kathryn & Gene Cox and trainer Matt Baker. Eddie Cox who has ridden the gelded son of Deltas First Dash in each of his four career starts will ride. First Down Toro leaves from post position #2 and is listed as the second choice in the morning line at odds of 7/2.  Heza Fast Classic, the fastest qualifier with a running time of 20.082 seconds for the 400 yards. The altered son of Heza Fast Dash earned a speed index of 99 in that event and figures prominently with a repeat of that effort for owner Rogelio Tristan and trainer Janie Hernandez.  He has drawn post position #7 and is the third choice at odds of 9/2. Juan Molina Jr. will ride.

Also on closing night Angelas Toast headlines a hard-knocking group of Louisiana bred three-year-olds in the EVD Derby $75,000 added.  A winner of six-of-seven starts this year including three stakes events, the altered son of Toast to Dash has been the leader of his division for owner Candy Villarreal and trainer Ezequiel Villarreal.  Angelas Toast will leave from post position #2 and has been listed as the 2/1 favorite in the ten horse field. Regular pilot John Hamilton will ride.

Streakin Patriot, the fastest qualifier with a running time of 17.955, Magic Shiney, and Chicks Can Streak, are all veteran stakes performers and capable of upsetting the applecart in this, the inaugural running of the EVD Derby.

Carded as the 10th race on Saturday’s eleven-race program, the approximate post time for the LQHBA Futurity is 9:38 pm central time. The EVD Derby, the #9th race on the rich program is set to run at 9:16 pm central time.

Here is the field in program order with odds for the $517,964 LQHBA Futurity to be run at Evangeline Downs on Saturday, November 25. 2006

1.	Dashing Classy Lady	Steve Fuller	6/1
2.	First Down Todd	Eddie Cox	7/2
3.	A Toast to Sweet	Danny Lavergne	8/1
4.	Bottle of Shine	Juan Vazquez	8/5
5.	AB Hope for Cash	Dewey Smith	20/1
6.	Best Be Dashing	Alvin Brossette	30/1
7.	Heza Fast Classic	Juan Molina Jr.	9/2
8.	Mr Jesses Magic	Donald Watson	12/1
9.	Toast to Warrior	Larry Melancon	15/1

Evangeline Downs is open daily for simulcast wagering throughout the winter.

For more information contact Evangeline Downs at 337-594-3000.