Sanchez has strong pair in LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity

Stablemates A Double Corona and El Camino Cl will give their barn a strong hand in Saturday night’s LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

The horses, trained by Jose Sanchez III, figure to start as leading contenders in the $1 million race that closes the meet. The card features a total of four stakes. First post is 5:35 p.m. Central.

A Double Corona dominated his Louisiana Million trial, and El Camino Cl won his in his first start in three months. The horses are part of a field of nine for the 400-yard race that includes San Lorenzo, winner of the $1 million Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs, and Tdz Rolex Rattler and Jrs Shiney Tee, the fastest qualifiers on Days 1 and 2 of the trials at Evangeline.

A Double Corona is seeking to win his fourth straight race. He was a 2 3/4-length winner of his Nov. 21 trial. He covered 400 yards in 19.77 seconds.

“He broke very, very sharp and just kept going,” said Sanchez, who trains the horse for Tommy Hays and Bobby J. Barnett. “He did great in his trial race and came out of it good.

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“I think he’s matured a lot. He’s just improving every time he runs.”

A Double Corona started his streak on Oct. 1 at Evangeline, when he won his maiden in a trial for the $475,851 LQHBA Sales Futurity. He returned to win the finale before his trial score for the Louisiana Million.

Eddie Sanchez has the mount from post 6.

El Camino Cl, a winner of 5 of 7 starts, scored by three-quarters of a length in his Nov. 21 trial. The start was his first since Aug. 27, when he ran eighth as one of the top choices in the Lee Berwick.

“He had a bad start in the finale,” Sanchez said. “We gave him a break.

“He needed the race the other day. It was his first race since the finale, so it was quite a long time in between. He has a lot of room to improve.”

Raul Ramirez Jr. has the mount from post 5.

Lifeinthefastlanes will be out to win her sixth consecutive race when she starts in the $273,763 LQHBA Breeders Derby. She was the fastest qualifier for the 400-yard finale, when she won her trial by a half-length in 19.58 on Nov. 21.

“She didn’t leave as good as I thought she should,” trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. said. “She left a little tardy, but she’s got a whole lot of talent so she overcame that last time. I feel she’s got to leave right there with them this time to really do some good.

“I’m just hoping she’ll stand in the gates and pay attention and not get so eager about leaving.”

Lifeinthefastlanes has had a perfect year, winning all five of her starts, including the $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby. Roberts said there’s been a lot of gate schooling during the streak.

“She’d been giving us a little problem in the gate,” he said. “Just sitting there, just the wait, her patience isn’t very large. When she gets in there, she’s ready to go. We’ve spent a lot of time with her at the gates, and it’s making her feel relaxed.”

David Alvarez, who has been aboard Lifeinthefastlanes during her entire 7-for-9 career, has the mount from post 8 for Jason Richards and Michael LeBlanc.