RG1 Winner San Lorenzo Jezz is one of 18 three-year-old fillies entered in the Mardi Gras Oaks on Wednesday.

© Hodges Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 2, 2025–Wednesday's seven-race program at Louisiana Downs will be dominated by trials for the Mardi Gras Derby (R) and Mardi Gras Oaks (R) for state-bred sophomores.

Eighteen 3-year-old fillies are entered in three 400-yard Mardi Gras Oaks trials. San Lorenzo Jezz, a homebred daughter of the Apollitical Jess stallion American Hussle racing for Rogelio Marquez Jr., is coming off of a 2-year-old season during which she earned $361,531 from five races and scored a head victory in the 350-yard, $654,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs.

San Lorenzo Jezz drew post 5 and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez for trainer Jeremy Derozin in the first Mardi Gras Oaks trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the March 28, $100,000-est. Mardi Gras Oaks final.

Wednesday's Mardi Gras Derby trials have drawn 32 entries. The 10 fastest qualifiers from the four 400-yard heats will meet in the $100,000-est. Mardi Gras Derby final on March 28 final.

Party Tyme Racing's Gold Gun Z, a graded stakes winning son of the One Famous Eagle stallion Gold Heart Eagle V trained by Jose R. Espinosa, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa in the second trial. A $122,000 purchase at the 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale, the bay gelding has banked $211,466 from six outs, and he won last year's 330-yard, $292,000 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs.

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