Konnan Cartel, the fastest runner from 19 Mardi Gras training races run on February 12, will make his career debut in Sunday’s 11th trial.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 1, 2022—Trials for one of the first futurities of the 2022 season -- the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds -- will be contested at Louisiana Downs on Saturday and Sunday.

A total of 199 juveniles are entered in this year’s Mardi Gras Futurity trials. Twenty-two 300-yard trials will be run, 11 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday. First post each day is set for 11 a.m. (CST).

The five fastest qualifiers from each day will meet in the March 27, $394,690 Mardi Gras Futurity final to vie for the winner's share of purse valued at $177,610.

Konnan Cartel, the fastest runner from 19 training races run on February 12, will make his career debut in Sunday’s 11th trial. A homebred son of the Corona Cartel stallion Five Bar Cartel owned by Luis Armando Castellanos, the brown gelding won his schooling race by 3 1/2 lengths while covering 220 yards in :12.100.

Konnan Cartel is out of Jet Black Chiraq, a winning 8-year-old Jet Black Patriot mare. The gelding drew post 6 and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna for trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr.

Toast To Blue, a son of champion Jess Louisiana Blue and a $22,000 purchase at last year’s Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale, drew post 3 and will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez in Sunday’s 10th heat. Toast To Blue scored a 2 3/4-length win in his schooling race, as the sorrel colt went 220 yards in :12.257.

Toast To Blue races for the Adame and Trejo Racing Team from the barn of Martin Trejo.

Saturday’s trials feature Mamaigotthis, a bay daughter of Jet Black Patriot racing for the Three Muskoteers partnership. A $24,000 buy at last year’s LQHBA Yearling Sale, the filly won her training race by one length in :12.320.

Mamaigotthis drew post 6 and will be ridden by Modesto Pina for trainer Wendy Garcia in Saturday’s seventh trial.

Saturday’s heats also drew AJs Streak Of Fire, a homebred AJs Fast Dash gelding campaigned by Arnold Trahan, Greig Baudoin, and trainer Trey Ellis. AJs Streak Of Fire won his training race by 2 1/4 lengths while covering 220 yards in :12.380.

AJs Streak Of Fire drew the rail post and will be ridden by Juan F. Garcia Jr. in Saturday’s fourth trial.