Evangeline: Rapid Transit tops rich Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Futurity

The richest race run each year at Evangeline Downs goes Saturday night, when nine 2-year-olds face off in the $517,844 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Futurity. The 400-yard race is a restricted Grade 1 and it anchors a program of four stakes that includes a $91,384 consolation for the LQHBA. There also are two divisions of the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Derby.

Rapid Transit emerged as the fastest qualifier for the LQHBA Futurity on Nov. 4, beating out more than 140 horses for the title after 15 trial races. He won his 400-yard heat in 19.71 seconds and will be looking for his first stakes win Saturday. Rapid Transit, who is trained by Miguel Rodriguez, is 2 for 2 at Evangeline.

The field for the LQHBA also includes Toast to Patriot, a Grade 2 winner who was second to Rapid Transit in the trials, and Coors Select, who has won three of his last four starts, with his lone lose a nose defeat in the LQHBA Sale Futurity at Fair Grounds in September.

The futurity finale was open to the 10 fastest qualifiers, but it has nine starters Saturday because Tylers Big Bird was not entered back. This will be the sixth running of the LQHBA at Evangeline.

The track will run 11 races in all Saturday, with first post set for 5:40 p.m. Central. The card is the richest of the meet at Evangeline.