BOSSIER CITY, LA–FEBRUARY 28, 2023–An action packed week of Quarter Horse racing gets underway on Wednesday, March 1 at Louisiana Downs.

Post time for Wednesday's program is 1:35 pm (Central) and live racing each Wednesday will continue through March 29.

On Thursday, March 2, there will be ten trials for the $339,046 Louisiana Downs Futurity (G3) with the top ten fastest 300-yard qualifiers advancing to the final on Saturday, March 25. Post time is 12:35 pm (CT).

Trials for the $365,080 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) will be conducted this week with a special early post time of 12:35 pm (CT). Twelve trials, at the distance of 300 yards, are set for Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4.  The five fastest qualifiers from each day will earn a berth to the final, which will also be run on Saturday, March 25.   

Louisiana Downs Futurity Trials to be Contested on Thursday

Ten 300-yard trials for the $75,000-added Louisiana Downs Futurity (G3) will get underway at 12:35 pm, marking the first official start for each of the 2-year-olds.

Many of the entrants competed in 220-yard schooling races at Louisiana Downs with a number of quality runners making their way to Louisiana via schooling races at Retama Park in Texas.

Trainer Santiago Villaseca will saddle Chendo, owned by Carlos Gabriel Castro, who posted the fastest clocking from the Louisiana Downs schooling races conducted on February 8. The son of Coronas Leaving You won his 220-yard heat in :12.375 seconds and will be ridden by Eleazar Hernandez.

Conditioner Justin Powell is tied for third in the 2023 Louisiana Downs standings and will saddle three Oklahoma-bred fillies. Ann Albin's Whirlaway Party, was a schooling race winner here, clocked at :12.705 seconds under rider Juan Garcia, Jr.

"She showed us a lot in her schooling race," said Powell. "She's a full sister to (multiple stakes winner Whirlaway Wagon) and is already paid into futurities at Remington Park and Ruidoso."  

Jockey Gilbert Ortiz will pilot the other trial entrants: Maria Gambrelli, a filly by Paint Me Perry owned by Lucky U Racing LLC and Hollyhawk for owner Laney Fowler.

Oritz has guided Hallmarke, a 4-year-old daughter of Duponte, to four consecutive victories this season for Fowler and Powell.

"To win races, you have to have great owners, horsepower and quality riders," said the 36-year-old conditioner. "Gilbert has been a big help to me this season; he is amazing, especially with the young horses."

The busiest trainer on Thursday's card will be Juan Diaz, Jr. who has fifteen 2-year-olds entered on the card. Navil Tovar's Dollar Bill, a colt by 2014 AQHA champion 2-year-old colt, was a Retama Park schooling race winner on February 10. Jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. has the call.

Jose Sanchez, III will saddle juveniles in each of the ten heats, including two fillies sired by first-crop sire Kas Tempting, a Grade 2 winning son of Tempting Dash. Kas Delivers Gl and Kas Debut Gl, owned by Garza Laurel Partnership LLC , were both schooling race winners on February 10 at Retama Park.

Sanchez will give a leg up to his younger brother Eddie with Luis Vivanco riding two of the entrants. Sanchez has eight additional entrants sired by different stallions, including Soar Galore Gl, a filly by Eclilpse Award winning Champion Sprinter Mitole, the 2019 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner.

The Sanchez brothers teamed up to win the 2019 edition of the Louisiana Downs Futurity with Texas-bred Trump My Record. 

"We knew he was a good horse, but never expected him to become such a great champion," said Sanchez, of the son of Apollitical Blood, who went on to earn $979,068.

Two Days of Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Set for Friday and Saturday

Trials for the $365,080 Mardi Gras Futurity will be run in a two-day format once again this year with twelve 300-yard trials on Friday, March 3 and 12 more on Saturday, March 4.  The five fastest qualifiers from each day will meet in the final on Saturday, March 25.

Many of the 2-year-olds showed their potential earlier this month in 220-yard schooling races, including Roundin Third, who will run in the ninth race of the Saturday card for owners Jerome Bellard, Dominic Bellard and Scott Lejeune.

The gelded son of Stoli, out of the First Prize Perry mare Allizoom, won his 220-yard schooling race in :12.508 seconds and will be ridden by Raul Ramirez, Jr. Trainer Fernando Valdez is pleased with the progress of the sorrel gelding.

"He was a little stubborn when we picked him up from Cox Ranch," said Valdez. "Fortunately, Joe Garza broke him for us and did a wonderful job. We felt he would run well in the schooling race, which he did, and following that, we had him x-rayed and he is as sound as he can be. Chico has come to the farm to work him, so we are looking forward his trial on Saturday."

Valdez will have nine additional entrants in the Mardi Gras trials, as well as three juveniles competing in trials for the Louisiana Downs Futurity on March 2.

"We usually have 3-4 babies, but this year we have a lot more," he added. "We talk at the barn about the potential of these juveniles and are excited to see which ones will step up. In Louisiana, we have racing all year long with so many futurities still to come; that's why we are happy to run here."

Kenneth Roberts, Sr. has won pretty much every major championship in Louisiana but has yet to win the Mardi Gras Futurity. He will run three  on Friday and two more on Saturday. Tee Fish is Favorite was a schooling race winner on February 18 covering 220 yards in :12.665 seconds. The son of Tee Cos is bred and owned by Jose Luis Perez Aguirre.

"Many of my owners want to run their 2-year-olds early in the year," explained Roberts. "Some of mine are really honest and deserve a chance."

Leading Louisiana Downs jockey Ubaldo Luna has the call aboard the Friday entrants for Roberts and the veteran horseman has high praise for his rider.

"Ubaldo is doing a real good job for us," said Roberts. "He takes a lot of pride in his work and is very dependable. I can tell certain things from watching my horses work, but Ubaldo comes back and tells me what he feels; that is valuable information."

It will be an action-packed weekend for each of the horsemen as well as the Louisiana Downs racing office staff.

"We are pleased with the number of nominations for both the Louisiana Downs and  Mardi Gras Futurities," said Matt Crawford, racing secretary at Louisiana Downs. "It is always exciting to see these young horses begin their careers here and progress throughout the year."

 

First 100 Wallet Giveaway and Louisiana Downs Promotions on Saturday

There will be something for everyone on Saturday, March 4 at Louisiana Downs. Live racing begins at 12:35 pm with 12 races, all trials for the Mardi Gras Futurity. To celebrate a day full of live racing action, guests will receive a $5 free bet promotion at the Racing Promotional Kiosks. Free Bet is valid on March 11 beginning at 11am. Beginning at 1:00 pm, the first 100 Club 74 members to visit the lobby area with their players card and photo ID will receive a wallet with a chance to win up to $500 in race wagers!

Guests can also enjoy food trucks, live music on the apron, so bring the kids out to our free kids zone! For more information, visit https://ladowns.com/racing/.

 

Louisiana Downs 2023 Quarter Horse Dates

The 46-day Quarter Horse live racing season continues Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Saturday, April 1. Tuesday racing will be added to the schedule on March 21 and March 28.
 

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

About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is 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.