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Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Draw 115 Louisiana-Bred Juveniles
Valentina Niebes won her training race on February 4 at Louisiana Downs

© Ann Switalski Photography
Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Draw 115 Louisiana-Bred Juveniles

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 6, 2025–A total of 115 state-bred 2-year-olds are entered in this year's Mardi Gras Futurity (G2) trials, to be run Saturday and Sunday at Louisiana Downs.

Saturday's seven heats are headed by Valentina Niebes, a gray daughter of the multiple stakes sire Paint Me Perry racing for Rene Adan Rodriguez. Valentina Niebes prepped for her official career debut with a half-length victory in a February 4 training race, as the filly covered her 220-yard distance in :12.434 under jockey Jorge J. Garcia.

Valentina Niebes drew post 3 and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna for trainer Guillermo Martinez in Saturday's sixth trial.

Rosalio Espinosa's Luziana Man, a bay son of Dominyun trained by Jose R. Espinosa, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez in Sunday's third heat. A $13,500 purchase at last year's LQHBA Yearling Sale, the colt made his preparations by winning his February 4, 220-yard schooling race by one length in :12.473.

The five fastest qualifiers from each day's 300-yard Mardi Gras Futurity trials will meet in the $425,000-est. final on March 29.
 

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