BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 22, 2021—On Sunday, March 7, the 3-year-olds were in action in five trials for the $121,158 Mardi Gras Derby. Sunny skies and a fast main track set the stage for the 400-yard trials with the fastest clocking of the day in the final trial.

The ten fastest 3-year-olds from trials will return for the final of the $121,158 Mardi Gras Derby on Saturday, March 27. The seven-race card gets underway at 1:00 p.m. (Central).

One Sweet Filly blazed to victory in :19.928 seconds under jockey Arturo Alvarez. Bred and owned by J & J Stables LLC, the daughter of One Sweet Jess out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Filly Er Up, showed her talent last year running fifth in the Mardi Gras Futurity, after setting the second-fastest qualifying time.

Next she ran at Delta Downs, finishing second in the Lassie Futurity last July. Jose Carrizales, who won his first training title last year at Louisiana Downs, conditions the brown filly who has won three of her five starts.

"She had knee surgery following the Lassie," said Carrizales. "I am lucky to train for great owners who understood that she would need six months to recover before she could begin training for her 3-year-old season. We always knew she was a runner, but we were surprised to see her do this well off the layoff."

She drew post position ten and was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. Carrizales,24, has won 20 races this year and looks poised to repeat as the meet’s leading conditioner.

"I like that post," said Carrizales. "She’s been feeling great and if she gets a clean break, I think it will be tough to beat her!"

The father-son duo of owner Rosendo Valdez and his son Rosendo Valdez, Jr. who trains for the barn. They qualified three for the final, beginning with Dashing Jess Cuervo, who ran second to One Sweet Filly in :19.979 seconds. Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. had the call aboard the daughter of Jess Cuervo who was bred by William Bernard Fournet from the Strong Hope mare Dashing Well.

She won an allowance at Louisiana Downs on January 24 and will make her stakes debut in the Mardi Gras final.

"She’s sound and built like a stud," said Valdez. "I claimed her for $10,000 at Delta Downs. She beat a stakes horse in an allowance and now I believe she might be one of my strongest runners."

Additionally, La Savanne won the first trial in a :20.113 seconds, which was the third-fastest time of the afternoon. The son of Jet Black Patriot out of the Jody O Toole mare Miss Phoebes O Toole was bred by Shelby Bernard and was making his eighth career start today under jockey David Alvarez. He was the runner-up in the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile last December at Evangeline Downs and prepped for his trial with an allowance victory here on February 8.

The father and son team also qualified Apollitical High who won the fourth trial in a time of :20.272 with David Alvarez in the saddle. Bred by Leroy Fontenot Jr, the son of Apollitical Blood out of the Toast to Dash mare Toastem Honi was bumped and ran sixth in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile, but had a much better trip as he won her second career effort on March 7.

"His only problem is that he doesn’t break well," stated Valdez. "He impressed me in his trial when he came from behind and ran down the racetrack so well."

The Mardi Gras Derby will run as the fourth race. The field, in post position order, follows:

1. Mr Game Kue (Noe Castaneda), 20-1
2. La Savanne (Bobby Ransom), 8-1
3. Rf Debs Blues Man (Jesse Levario), 8-1
4. Jrs Shiney Tee (Gilbert Ortiz), 8-1
5. Bad Girl Corona (Rolando Pina), 15-1
6. Get It Done Babe (Ubaldo Luna), 20-1
7. Dashing Jess Cuervo (Ricardo Hernandez, Jr), 7-2
8. Tee Zo (Leonardo Rodriguez), 5-1
9. Apollitical High (David Alvarez), 8-1
10. One Sweet Filly (Arturo Alvarez), 2-1

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About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.