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9th Fastest Time: :20.173
Morning Line: 20/1
Lifetime Record: (9) 0-3-4, $15,115

Owner: Dania Castellanos
Breeder: Luis Armando Castellanos (LA)
Trainer: Ray Mayo
Jockey: Arnulfo Gutierrez

Notes:
Blood Aztec is a half-brother to rising star Konnan Cartel. Dania and Luis Castellanos retained retired jockey Ray Mayo to break the gelding. Impressed with his second place finish in his Mardi Gras Futurity trial, Mayo felt the gelding had potential, but needed to overcome his overexcitement.

"I took the blinkers off in his trial for the Million," said Mayo. "It made a difference as he ran a big race. He’s still a maiden, but he’s doing really well."

This marks the first time Mayo will train a horse for the seven-figure futurity. In his riding career, he had mounts in the Lee Berwick Futurity, but had never ridden in a previous edition of the LQHBA Louisiana Million.

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3rd Fastest Time: :20.070
Morning Line: 3/1
Lifetime Record: (7) 4-2-0, $297,794

Owner: Party Tyme Racing
Breeder: Jumonville Farms/ Burnett Ranch(LA)
Trainer: Jose R. Espinosa
Jockey: Sabino Reyes

Notes:
This colt, who runs for the partnership of Jerry Deville and Jose R. Espinosa,
has done little wrong in his 2-year-old campaign. Winner of this first three
consecutive races at Delta Downs, Eyesa Freighttrain B ran second, by a nose, to One Sweet Sugar in the $624,982 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) and ran fourth in the Dash For Cash (G2) Futurity at Lone Star Park.

"He has been a dream horse for us," stated Espinosa. "To have such a sound horse, who has earned close to $300,000 already this year is a blessing." Espinosa is also the trainer of B Second Cowboy, who has been installed as the favorite in the $237,940 Evangeline Down Futurity(G3) on Friday, December 15. Sabino Reyes has worked for Espinosa for ten years, breaking the majority of the babies.

"He’s recently licensed, but we are happy to give him the mounts in both finals," added Espinosa. "He knows these horses well."

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8th Fastest Time: :20.169
Morning Line: 15/1
Lifetime Record: (5) 2-1-0, $18,488

Owner: Kirt Blaine Chaisson and C 3 Development
Breeder: Kirt B. Chaisson(LA)
Trainer: Phillip Calais, Jr.
Jockey: Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr.

Notes:
Freightless is a full sister to No Freight, who ran second in the 2019
LQHBA Louisiana Million. She runs in partnership for breeder Chaisson, his
two brothers and his middle son.

"We are so proud of this filly and the hard work of our trainer Phillip Calais, Jr.," he said. "She was the 11th fastest qualifier in the Lassie and didn't break in the LQHBA Sale Futurity (finishing 10th). Finally, she ran her race in the Million trial."

Chaisson is a small breeder and has devoted many hours to Louisiana Quarter Horse racing as the president of the LQHBA.

"We have come a long way and I will be one of many Louisiana owners and breeders celebrating our big race with family and friends," added Chaisson.

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5th fastest Qualifier: :20.097
Morning Line: 20/1
Lifetime Record: (9) 1-5-1, $26,980

Owner: Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC
Breeder: Grant Farms, LLC (LA)
Trainer: Janessa Lee Muniz
Jockey: Edgar U. Mata

Notes:
The filly bred by LQHBA champion breeder Grand Farms LLC, has not missed a check in nine starts this year, beginning with a second-place finish in her trial for the Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs in March. She broke her maiden at Evangeline Downs on November 2, and ran second to fastest qualifier Hoztile Takeover in her LQHBA Million trial.

Conditioner Janessa Muniz has won 29 races to date; her best year since she began training in 2017. She also trains Eyesa Just Pretty for Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC, who ran second in both the Mardi Gras and Lassie Futurities this year. Muniz will saddle fastest qualifier Rgs Gold Wagon in the 2023 EVD Derby on Friday, December 15. The son of Prized Wagon won last year’s EVD Futurity(G2).

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6th Fastest Time: :20.091
Morning Line: 12/1
Lifetime Record: (8) 2-2-1, $37,400

Owner: Jose Guzman
Breeder: Thomas Glenn Fontenot (LA)
Trainer: Brenda Foster
Jockey: Rene Hernandez

Notes:
The grey gelding has won two of his eight starts this year, finishing second in his LQHBA Million trial by a head to Eyesa Freighttrain B.

Trainer Brenda Foster won the $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders Futurity(RG1) in 2014 with Jls Dashn N Zoomn, who is retired and enjoying retirement on her farm. He was owned by Jose Guzman, who purchased Heza Rip for $18,000 at the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale. Foster reflected on the victory by Jls Dashn N Zoomn and stated that Heza Rip has a similar "calm and easy going temperament" and came out of his trial with no issues.

"Jls is the king and has given us so much," she said. "I am 73 and it would be wonderful for "Rip" to give us our second million dollar futurity win!"

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Fastest Qualifier: 20.045
Morning Line: 5/2
Lifetime Record: 9 3-2-1, $110,969

Jockey: Ubaldo Luna
Trainer: Guillermo Martinez
Owner: Kretschmer, Mackenzie and Castellanos, Luis Armando
Breeder: Roland Frederick/Triple Lynn Farms

Notable: 
It’s been quite a year for Hoztile Takeover who posted the fastest
qualifying time for the LQHBA Louisiana Million in trials run on November 24.
The gelding by One Sweet Jess ran sixth in the Mardi Gras Futurity (G2); sixth in the Lee Berwick(RG1) and was the runner-up in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) prior to shipping to Evangeline Downs.

"We are very excited," said assistant trainer Luis Martinez. "He is a healthy horse and other than his tendency to get in, he always runs his race. "He qualified for three futurities already this year and we were confident that he was ready. To set the fastest time was really great!"

A victory in the final would be a first for the connections. Jockey Ubaldo Luna won the 2023 leading rider title at Louisiana Downs as well as Delta Downs (in a tie with Guadalupe Lucio, Jr.). Luna also captured his first Grade 2 stakes with Jess Flying Cowgirl in the 2023 Sam Houston Futurity (G2).

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7th Fastest Time: :20.164
Morning Line: 4/1
Lifetime Record: (7) 4-2-0, $516,788

Owner: Rogelio Marquez, Jr.
Breeder: Rogelio Marquez, Jr. (LA)
Trainer: Jesus M. Marquez
Jockey: Jasiel Aquino

Notes:
The high earner in the field is bred and owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr. She won the Lassie and Lee Berwick Futurities at Delta Downs, but was not paid into the LQHBA Sale Futurity.

"We were aiming to get one more race in her before the LQHBA Louisiana Million trials," explained Marquez. "There was a stakes for fillies at Lone Star Park that did not go, so she had quite a bit of time off."

Despite the layoff, her time of :20.164 seconds secured her spot in the final and if she prevails on Saturday, she will become the third winner for the family, joining San Lorenzo in 2020 and San Lorenzo Jet, who won last year's edition in a dead heat with Tha Duke.

"We have been blessed to run in this final," he added. "In 2021 San Lorenzeaux ran second to Blood Money. One Sweet Sugar would be our first homebred, which would mean a great deal!"

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10th Fastest Time: : 20.164
Morning Line: 5/1
Lifetime Record: (9) 1-5-0, $26,400

Owner: Bryan Candanosa
Breeder: Robicheaux Ranch / Triple M Ranch (LA)
Trainer: Hector J. Sanchez
Jockey: Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr.

Notes:
This filly by leading sire Heza Fast Dash sold at the LQHBA Yearling Sale for $105,000 and made her debut for trainer Hector Sanchez in a Lassie Futurity trial at Delta Downs. She broke her maiden in an allowance on May 26 and then won her trial to the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1), finishing fourth in the final.

"Our goal from the beginning was to get her ready for Delta," said Sanchez. "In each start, she showed promise and continues to be a really consistent filly."

This will be the first LQHBA Louisiana Million starter for Sanchez, who is pleased that she will break from the far outside post. He has tabbed jockey Bryan Candanosa to ride.

"Her trial for the Million was one of her best races," added Sanchez. "We are grateful to get in and believe that if she breaks well, it will be tough to catch her."

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6th Fastest Time: :20.149
Morning Line: 15/1
Lifetime Record: (8) 2-1-1, $35,520

Owner: Rodney J. Verret
Breeder: Riley Blanchet (LA)
Trainer: Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr.
Jockey: Arnulfo Gutierrez

Notes:
Owner Rodney J. Verret signed a $20,000 ticket for the filly at the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale. She made her first start in trials for the Lassie Futurity followed by a second-place finish in the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes at Delta Downs. Progressing nicely, she comes into the final off back-to-back wins at Evangeline Downs, including a victory in her LQHBA Million trial.

"We took our time with her as she was slow developer," explained Roberts. "Rodney is always patient as an owner; she’s coming around now."

LQHBA champion trainer Roberts has won two previous editions of the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity with Ol Time Preacher Man (2013) and You Drive I Fly (2017). He hopes to win the trophy once again, but feels each horse has a chance this year.

"There is very little separating the first to last qualifier," he said. "This one is wide open!"

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2nd Fastest Time: : 20.060
Morning Line: 8/1
Lifetime Record: (8) 2-0-1, 24,895

Owner: Douglas O. Traylor
Breeder: Ken O'Brien(LA)
Trainer: Victor Oviedo
Qualifying Jockey: Jasiel Aquino

Notes:
Owner Doug Traylor, of Katy, Texas, had his eye on several babies at the
2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale, but had no qualms about signing a $40,000 ticket
for The Knockout Power.

"He was my favorite Power Jam and checked all the boxes," admitted Traylor. "In his first few races, he had some bad luck and did not leave the gate well. But in his trial for the Million, he got a clean break and showed his huge closing kick!"

Traylor has known conditioner Victor Ovideo for many years and understood jockey Jasiel Aquino opting for two-time futurity winner One Sweet Sugar. He has retained the riding services of the top Quarter Horse jockey in the nation, Francisco Calderon, who has already surpassed $7.1 million in earnings this year!

"I called Francisco, who won one of the first stakes of his career for me on Bubba Carver," explained Traylor. "He said yes, so we are all very excited about the final."

Louisiana Million notes by Martha Claussen

Martha Claussen has been involved in the racing industry since 1997. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana, Indiana and other regions in North America.