Man for Cos enters the futurity as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after posting the fastest qualifying time by a nose in a dramatic head-bobbing finish in the third trial.

© Hodges Photography

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–MAY 21, 2026–The Saturday evening card at Delta Downs promises a thrilling night of Quarter Horse action, with the spotlight shining on the Louisiana-Bred colts. A competitive nine-race program begins at 6:15 PM, building excitement toward two major feature events for colts and geldings, the Restricted Grade 2 $297,965 Laddie Futurity and the $50,000 Laddie Stakes. The talented juveniles will battle over 330 yards in what promises to be one of the most exciting nights of the meet.

The Restricted Grade 2 $297,965 Laddie Futurity brings together the ten fastest Louisiana-Bred two-year-olds from the May 1 trial heats, with several emerging stars aiming to stake their claim among the state's top juveniles.

Man for Cos enters the finale as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after posting the fastest qualifying time by a nose in a dramatic head-bobbing finish in the third trial. The talented gelding showed determination throughout the race and continued his strong start to his young career, having previously won his debut in the Mardi Gras Futurity trials in a dead-heat despite early bumping.

Bred and owned by Ruse Ranch, LLC, the gelding is by Kj Mucho Macho Man and out of the Tee Cos mare Just for Cos. Trainer Jose A. Garcia will saddle the speedy juvenile from post three, with jockey Nestor Duran aboard, as the team seeks another big performance under the Saturday night lights.

One of the major challengers is Awesome Eagle V, listed at 7-2 on the morning line after a dominant trial victory. He cruised clear late to win by one and a quarter lengths and posted the third-fastest qualifying mark of the evening. Earlier this season, the gelding also captured his Mardi Gras Futurity trial before advancing to the Grade 2 $431,000 Mardi Gras Futurity final, where he overcame trouble after a bad stumble at the start and rallied to finish seventh.

The talented gelding is by Gold Heart Eagle V and out of the Fast Prize Jordan mare Oh Shez Awesome. Trainer Jose U. Lopez sends him into the futurity from post seven, with regular rider Leonardo Rodriguez returning aboard for breeder and owner Oscar Edel Moreno.

With early speed scattered throughout the field and several lightly raced juveniles still improving with each start, the Laddie Futurity has all the ingredients for a dramatic finish when the finalists load into the gate at approximately 9:35 PM in the night’s ninth and final race.

On the card earlier, the seventh race features the $50,000 Laddie Stakes, where another talented group of Louisiana-Bred colts and geldings will square off at 330 yards.

Conair Cartel headlines the field as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after an outstanding start to his career. The gelding has already captured victories in both his Mardi Gras and Laddie Futurity trials and nearly secured a Grade 2 triumph, finishing second by a neck in the $431,000 Mardi Gras Futurity after being caught late in the final strides. He has already banked $83,538 for owner Luis Armando Castellanos.

The gelding is by Five Bar Cartel and out of the Rakin In The Cash mare Miss Classy Perry. Bred in Louisiana by Dennis Mills Partners, LLC, Conair Cartel will break from the rail under jockey Victor M. Urieta, Jr., for trainer Santiago Villaseca.

Saturday night at Delta Downs belongs to the boys, and with talented Louisiana-Bred colts and geldings filling both feature events, fans can expect plenty of speed, intensity, and excitement from the start to the finish.

The races at Sam Houston Race Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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