© Coady Photography

BR, F, FOALED JANUARY 25, 2021
APOLLITICAL BLOOD - MS VALIANT PERRY, BY VALIANT HERO

Odds: 9-5
2023 Record:  5-4-0-0  $202,795
Second Fastest Qualifier :17.541

Jockey: David A. Alvarez
Trainer: Jesus M. Marquez
Owner: Rogelio Marquez, Jr.
Breeder: Slash Z Quarter Horses

Notable: Her only loss this year was in the Lassie Futurity, when she stumbled, but regrouped and still ran fourth. She's a tiny filly, but tries hard. David gallops all of our horses, but has always liked San Lorenzo Blood," said trainer Jesus Marquez.

San Lorenzo Blood was a $70,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale purchase and rewarded her connections by winning the first official futurity of the year. This will be the third time that owner Rogelio Marquez. Jr. has two entrants in the Lee Berwick final. He won the Lee Berwick for the first time in 2017 with Dashnunder Afullmoon; 2020 with San Lorenzo and last year with San Lorenzo Jet.

David Alvarez has won the 2018 Lee Berwick with Eyesa Jess Jumpn and the 2020 on San Lorenzo and 2022 aboard San Lorenzo Jet.
 

© Ann Switalski Photography

QH, SOR, G, FOALED JANUARY 11, 2021
ONE SWEET JESS - MS PILOT ID, BY IDENTITY THEFT 

Odds: 12-1
2023 Record: 4-2-0-0  $27,854
Seventh Fastest Qualifier:17.785

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

Notable: Hoztile Takeover qualified for the Mardi Gras Futurity (G2), running sixth.  Former jockey Ray Mayo broke the gelding, who had some gate issues at Louisiana Downs, but has matured since arriving at Delta Downs for trainer Guillermo Martinez.

"He's grown up and is much better in the gates," said Luna.  "What I like is the way he runs in company; he loves the pressure and digs in when he sees a horse running next to him."

Jockey Ubaldo Luna won the 2023 leading rider title at Louisiana Downs and captured his first grade 2 stakes with Jess Flying Cowgirl in the 2023 Sam Houston Futurity (G2).
 

© Coady Photography

B, F, FOALED JANUARY 16, 2021
FREIGHTTRAIN B - MAMMA JAMMA JAMMA, BY APOLLITICAL JESS

Odds: 20-1
2023 Record:  4-2-0-0  $27,854
Eighth Fastest Qualifier:17.785

Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
Trainer: Joel Huitron
Owner: Fausto G. Mendoza
Breeder: Wiggins Acres Llc

Notable:  Trainer Joel Huitron ran fourth in the 2020 Lee Berwick Futurity with Shortstop Express.  

"Jess Train B is a fast filly and has always left the gate well. She was barely beaten in both trials and has matured nicely. We have her paid into the LQHBA Sale Futurity and LQHBA Louisiana Million."

Jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. has won two editions of the Sam Houston Futurity and won his second Firecracker Futurity last weekend at Delta Downs with Motion of Grace.
 

© Coady Photography

QH, SOR, F, FOALED FEBRUARY 8, 2021
MR PILOTO - ADORED BIGTIME, BY BIGTIME FAVORITE

Odds: 8-1
2023 Record:  5-1-2-2-0  $47,900
Third Fastest Qualifier:17.542

Notable: "I am happy with her progress," said trainer Gilberto Gonzalez. "She was a very high strung
filly in the beginning of  the year. We worked with her and she has calmed down. Running second to (fastest qualifier) Lorenzo Blood proved that she is a nice filly. She might have been ignored before, but they are talking about her now."

Ali Rivera defended his leading rider title at Sam Houston Race Park. This will be his second mount in the Lee Berwick Futurity; last year he finished fourth aboard Tf One Sweet Wokatee.
 

© Coady Photography

QH, SOR, G, FOALED JANUARY 7, 2021
MR PILOTO - JESS A SPECIAL STAR, BY FEATURE MR JESS

Odds: 20-1
2023 Record:  2-0-1-0  $2,000
Ninth  Fastest Qualifier:17.849

Jockey: Leonardo Rodriguez
Trainer: Paul Leal
Owner: BM AQ Racing LLC
Breeder: Grant Farms LLC

Notable: This is the first year that Paul Leal has gone out on his own as a trainer after serving as an assistant to John Buchanan and Trey Wood.  "After his schooling race at Retama Park, we felt he needed more time," said Leal. "He was paid into the Laddie Futurity, but we held off. He ran a little green in his debut but improved in his trial for the Lee Berwick. He's a good gate horse and Leonardo (younger brother to Everardo Rodriguez) is a talented rider."
 

© Coady Photography

QH, SOR, F, FOALED JANUARY 7, 2021
HEZA FAST DASH - MISS JESS ROGUE, BY MR JESS PERRY

Odds: 12-1
2023 Record:  3-2-0-0  $23,900
Fourth  Fastest Qualifier:17.718

Jockey: Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr.
Trainer: Hector J. Sanchez
Owner: Archie T. McKinnon
Breeder: Robicheaux Ranch/Triple M

Notable: Sold at the LQHBA Yearling Sale for $105,000, the connections were not in a hurry to run her early this year. Jockey Francisco Garcia, Jr. spoke of her temperament stating that she was a hot tempered filly and was fractious in the gate in her early races. "She has improved with experience and stood well in the gate in her Lee Berwick trial. Weather played a big role that night, but she brought her "A" game and we are hoping for a good start in the final."
 

© Coady Photography

QH, B, C, FOALED FEBRUARY 4, 2021
FREIGHTTRAIN B - EYEJESSLOVELOUISIANA, BY MR JESS PERRY

Odds: 5-1
2023 Record:  3-3-0-0  $152,156
Seventh Fastest Qualifier:17.752

Notable: The undefeated colt races in partnership for Jose R. Espinosa and Jerry Deville and would
be the first Lee Berwick Futurity champion for both horsemen. "Each year, I train 20-25 babies and felt Eyese Freighttrain B was my best 2-year-old," said Espinosa. "He is very sound and has shown tremendous intelligence in each of his races. There are some nice fillies in the final; our colt may be the heartbreaker."

Multiple-graded stakes winning ride Everardo Rodriguez won the 2021 Lee Berwick Futurity with Blood Money.
 

© Coady Photography

SOR, F, FOALED FEBRUARY 19, 2021
ONE SWEET JESS - SUGARSHAKER B, BY HEZA FAST DASH 

Odds: 4-1
2023 Record:  5-3-1-0  $202,392
Fastest Qualifier:17.524

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

Notable:  The Lassie Futurity winner is bred and owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr., who is having a banner year in the Quarter Horse industry. The resident of Rosenberg, TX is the 2023 leading Quarter Horse
owner in the nation with 20 wins and earnings of $1.1 million. This will be the third time that owner Rogelio Marquez. Jr. has two entrants in the Lee Berwick final. He won the Lee Berwick for the first time in
2017 with Dashnunder Afullmoon; 2020 with San Lorenzo and last year with San Lorenzo Jet.

"Louisiana racing has been good for us," said the owner and breeder. "We look forward to running both fillies in the Lee Berwick and they are both paid into the (LQHBA Louisiana) Million. We are proud to have won  each of the Louisiana Futurities once and a few multiple times."
 

© Ann Switalski Photography

B, F, FOALED JANUARY 17, 2021
CARTERS CARTEL - EYE CRAFT-TB, BY SONGANDAPRAYER TB

2023 Record:  5-2-3-0  $129,301
Tenth Fastest Qualifier:17.857

Odds: 8-1
Jockey: Sabino Reyes
Trainer: Janessa Lee Muniz
Owner: Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC
Breeder: J Adcock/Montgomery Equine

Notable:  Qualified and ran second in both the Mardi Gras and Lassie Futurity. This will be the first time trainer Janessa Muniz and jockey Sabino Reyes (cousin of her regular rider Eric Reyes)  have a finalist in the Lee Berwick Futurity. 

"She has been professional ever since we arrived at Louisiana Downs in January," said Muniz. "After she qualified for the Mardi Gras Futurity, we knew she was something special. We were biting our nails in the Lee Berwick trials as she ran early and we had to wait till the end to see if her time held up. Drawing the far outside post is new for us; she has always drawn closer to the rail. But she has handled everything well so far!"

Reporting by Martha Claussen