Leading the qualifiers from day two was Conair Cartel, who secured the fastest time of the afternoon while winning the second trial.

© Ann Switalski Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 8, 2026– The second day of trials for the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) was held Sunday afternoon at Louisiana Downs, with Louisiana-bred juveniles competing for the remaining qualifying positions to the $426,552 final scheduled for March 28.

Leading the qualifiers from day two was Conair Cartel, who secured the fastest time of the afternoon while winning the second trial. The gelding broke sharply and held his advantage to the wire, scoring a neck victory in a wire-to-wire performance while stopping the clock in :15.514 for 300 yards and earning a 95 speed index.

Bred by Dennis Mills Partners LLC, Conair Cartel races for owner Luis Armando Castellanos and is trained by Santiago Villaseca with Jorge Javier Garcia aboard. He is by Grade 1 winner Five Bar Cartel, sire of more than 280 winners with progeny earnings exceeding $12.5 million. Conair Cartel is out of the Rakin In The Cash mare Miss Classy Perry, a winning mare and stakes-placed runner.

Pops Innocent Corona recorded the second-fastest qualifying time of the day after winning the opening trial. The filly finished strongly to reach the wire a neck in front, stopping the timer in :15.567 while earning a 93 speed index.

Bred by A&B Quarter Horses, LLC, Pops Innocent Corona is owned by Mairali Gomez, trained by Carlos Turrubiartes and ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez. A $8,000 purchase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, the filly is by graded stakes winner Hes Innocent and out of the Spit Curl Jess mare Spit In My Corona, a winning mare. The dam is a full sister to graded stakes winner Spit Like Jagger ($105,045) and a half-sister to graded stakes winners CR Tuckernut ($215,649) and Fast Prize Tacita ($65,916). Her female family also traces to champion Dark NME ($1,739,485) and AQHA Dam of Distinction and Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash.

Sharpest Image secured the third-fastest qualifying time after finishing second to Conair Cartel in the second trial. The colt stopped the clock in :15.568 and posted a 93 speed index.

Bred by Robicheaux Ranch Inc., Sharpest Image is owned by Vicente Arreola, trained by Victor Oviedo and ridden by Angel Fierro. He is by Gold Heart Eagle V, winner of the All American Derby (G1). The colt is out of the stakes-placed Game Patriot mare Non Stop Patriot ($50,050). His second dam is a half-sister to three-time champion and AQHA Broodmare of the Year Apollitical Time ($904,242), the dam of World Champion and all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess ($1,399,831).

Click HERE to see full qualifier list.

The ten fastest qualifiers from the two days of trials will return to Louisiana Downs for the $426,552 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) final on March 28.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.