Game Show Special by a nose at Evangeline

The slimmest of margins decided the richest race of the year at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night, when Game Show Special edged Bounce Bye by a nose in the $540,656 LQHBA Breeders Futurity. The race was a restricted Grade 1 for 2-year-old Quarter Horses bred in Louisiana.

Game Show Special ($9.20) closed well to win the 400-yard race in 20.15 seconds on a track rated fast Saturday.

"He broke cleanly but took a little while to gather himself," said Juan Vazquez, who rode Game Show Special for the first time for winning trainer Robert Dimitt. "About midstretch he started to roll and I really thought we were going to win, but [Bounce Bye] dug in and I'd by lying if I said I knew for sure that we had won. It was pretty tight.

"He's a really nice horse, and still learning, and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to ride him."

Game Show Special is owned by Shelley Goodnight. With the win, he improved his record to 7 for 9.