Page 149 - Speedhorse December 2019

LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational Stakes
LOVE THE WAY YOU FLY
By John Moorehouse
Love The Way You Fly went gate-to-wire in the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational Stakes at
Evangeline Downs on Dec. 7. In the process, the two- year-old sorrel colt secured his first win in stakes com-
pany and his second overall victory from six starts.
The race was held for horses that failed to qualify for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-RG1 dur- ing the Nov. 15 trials, with preference given by order of the fastest trial times.
Love The Way You Fly
left little doubt as to the
outcome in this race, breaking on top from the five-post and promptly opening a 1-length margin of separation.
Jockey John Hamilton maintained that advantage at each remaining call of the 400 yards, finishing in :19.758 for a 93 speed index.
The two-year-old colt brought home a $24,000 payday for his first stakes victory, more than doubling his prior bankroll to a new total of $40,408.
Todd Matte owns Love The Way You Fly, who won his debut out back in April—a
trial for the Laddie
Futurity at Delta Downs in which he qualified to the $369,405 finals and finished sixth. However, he hadn’t been back to the winner’s circle since that race.
Trey Ellis is the condi- tioner for Love The Way You Fly, who was purchased by Matte for $50,000 at the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale.
Copper Spring Ranch LLC bred Love The Way You Fly out of Lovethewayyoulie, who won the 2014 run-
ning of the Heritage Place Futurity-G1 and finished third in that year’s Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge-G3. She earned $456,472 in her race career.
As a broodmare, Lovethewayyoulie has produced three starters/money earners from four race age foals. Love The Way You Fly is the top earner and only stakes winner in the brood. However, PYC Lovestruck is a 2019 stakes placed runner, who finished third in
the Pocatello Downs Juvenile Challenge and Wyoming Downs Futurity as well as a finalist in the AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 and Harrah’s Futurity-G3.
Jess Tolltac (Jess An Idea-Toast To Tolltac) made a steady run for second place for J. and J. Stables LLC. The Jose Carrizales trainee had Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. aboard. Jess Tolltac has two previous victories.
Swamp Eagle (Heza Fast Dash-Gee Whit) finished third under Pedro Espinosa for owner Fausto Mendoza and trainer Fructuoso Huitron. The gelding broke his maiden just two races prior to this event.
RDD Empire Builder (Jess Louisiana Blue-Jacquie O), JRS Coronas Toast (Coronas Leaving You-Egos Toast To Dash), One Fast Perry (Fast Prize Jordan-De Bell Perry), Bad N Boujee (Tip Toe Dasher-Dashin Lajolla) and Taylor Made Cartel (Five Bar Cartel- Mystical Blue) competed the order of finish. Good Timing Mann and Runaway Second Down were scratched.
Evangeline Downs $40,000 • 400 yards :19.758 • si 93
Corona Cartel
Furyofthewind
Dashing Phoebe
LOVE THE WAY YOU FLY, ‘17-c.
Tempting Dash
Lovethewayyoulie
Witchs Streak
Love The Way You Fly’s winning connections include owner Todd Matte, trainer Trey Ellis and jockey John Hamilton.
Coady Photography
Coady Photography