BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 6, 2022—Jess Louisiana Sea, a $30,000 LQHBA Sale graduate, kicked off the second day of trials for the $324,288. Mardi Gras Futurity with a 2-½ length winning effort in trial 1.

His time of :15.732 seconds, into a 15 mph headwind, held through the 11 race card as the fastest qualifier on Day 2 of the 300 yard restricted Grade 2 race. Today's five qualifiers will join the five fastest from Saturday (Mar 5th) to advance to the Sunday, March 27th final and vie for a $145,929 winner's payday.

A total of 199 state-bred juveniles entered and for the first time in history the Mardi Gras Futurity trials was forced to split into two 11 race-card days. Today's trials were contested into a 15 to 20 mph headwind throughout the day.

Under jockey Luis Vivanco, Jess Sea Louisiana was an easy winner for trainer Raul Galvan. Elezar Martinez, Sr. purchased the son of champion sire The Louisiana Cartel from breeder Grant Farms, LCC at the Kinder, Louisiana sale last August.

 

"We liked him in the sale and both of his works at Retama were very good. Owner Eleazar Martinez said following the race. "His win today was very good. I am happy to run in Louisiana."

Jess Sea Louisiana is out of the winning Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Sea, a half-sister to World Champion Waver Carver and three-time Champion Ocean Runaway.

The opening weekend for 2-year-olds has been very good for Louisiana-based Grant Farms, LLC. Yesterday (Saturday) they bred the second fastest qualifier, Mp Dont Look, to the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) and last night they bred the fastest qualifier, Jessa Beast, to the Grade 2 $440,800 Oklahoma Futurity at Remington Park. AQHA leading breeders' Jon and Donna McPherson of Alexandria own Grant Farms, LLC.

Trainer Homar Garza sent out Eyesa Wild Train in the sixth trial to post the second fastest qualifying time on Day 2 for owner Daniel Castillo.

 

Jockey Heriberto Aguilar-Orozco rode the $21,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate to a :15.843 clocking into an 18 mph headwind. Riley Blanchet bred the gray son of world champion sire Freghttrain B from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eyesa Blues Girl.

"He worked well on the farm," Garza said after the race. "We saw early that he was the best of our Freighttrains. Mr Castillo agreed to supplement him and we were very happy with the way he ran today."

Eyesa Wild Train is out of an unplaced Mr Eye Opener mare who is a half-sister to world champion Blues Girl Too, Eyesa Blues Girl. She has produced 6 winners including G2-placed Heza Blue Man.

Mrs Kennedy Tlc dead-heated with Toast To Blue in the 10th trial to tie for the third fastest time of :15.905 seconds, into a 20 mph headwind.

Manuel Pizana trains Mrs Kennedy Tlc, a daughter of The Louisiana Cartel for owner Eduardo Lopez. Bred by Jorge Haddad, from the G3-placed Louisiana Senator mare Time For The Senator, Mrs Kennedy Tlc was a $6,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate. The bay filly is from the family of three-time champion Apollitical Time, the dam of leading sire Apollitical Jess.

Toast To Blue, a $22,000 LQHBA graduate by multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue, is trained by Martin Trejo for the Adame and Trejo Racing Team. Aymond Bates LLC and Manuel Henry bred the colt from Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) winner Sante Mon Amie, by Toast To Dash The second dam is the G3-placed Corona Cartel mare Corona Mon Amie.

Rh Querido Ruperto, a son of All American Futurity(G1) winner Mr Piloto finished a neck back in the 10th trial to get the final qualifying spot on Sunday. Trainer Barbara Ball named jockey Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. to ride the Louisiana-bred gelding for owner-breeder Rancho Herradura LLC.

Out of the Tinys First Corona mare Tinys First Velocity, Rh Querido Ruperto was clocked in :15.930 seconds to get the fifth fastest time on Day 2.

For a list of the 10 finalists from both days, with times sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockey CLICK HERE.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

 

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About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is now owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. 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.