News - Headlines March  28, 2024

Quick To Flirt Fastest Qualifier In Rich Mardi Gras Futurity Trials


Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) fastest qualifier Quick To Flirt defeats Ms Pilot Tee in the third trial (Race 4) Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

© Hodges Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA--FEBRUARY 24, 2018--Quick To Flirt, a standout in the training races on February 2 at Louisiana Downs, proved he was the real thing on Saturday when he garnered his first win while setting the fastest time over 132 state-breds who went to post in the restricted Grade 2 Mardi Gars Futurity trials, the first official 2-year-old races of 2018.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the 14 trial races, will return to Louisiana Downs on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) to compete for a record purse of $310,466. The winners will walk away with nearly $140,000 and the last place horse will earn $3,104.

Racing for Triple C Racing Stables, LLC, Quick To Flirt defeated 10th qualifier Ms Pilot Tee by one-length in the fourth trial to set the fastest clocking of :15.587 seconds, a 90-speed index over a muddy "sealed" racetrack with a 20-mph crosswind.

Tf Lil Black Runaway (#9) defeats fellow qualifier Flamin Hot Fortune in Trial 9 (Race 10) Saturday at Louisiana Downs.
© Hodges Photography
The son of the Royal Quick Dash stallion Quick To Flare Up broke sharp under jockey Randy Edison then drew clear to one by one-length. Trainer Belinda Disotell saddled the bay homebred out of the First Down Jewel mare Fasttown Baby.

Quick To Flirt took advantage of an earlier announcement Saturday by Louisiana Downs that beginning today Quarter Horse purses would increase by $1,000 per race. Today's trial races purse totals were increased to $7,000 and Quick To Flirt pocketed $4,500 for his first career win.

Tdz Louisiana Toast, under jockey Luis Vivanco, setting the third fastest time in Trial 8 (Race 9). © Hodges Photography
Tf Lil Black Runaway, a $120,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, proved the best in race 10 by defeating fellow qualifier Flamin Hot Fortune by half-a-length. Everardo Rodriguez had the riding call aboard the Runaway Racing LLC-owned son of leading sire Sir Runaway Dash.

Lanny Keith saddled the Tate Farms-bred 2-year-old out of Tf Lil Black Oak by Oak Tree Special. The brown filly was clocked in :15.662 seconds to get the second fastest time.

In Race 9 Tdz Louisiana Toast got up late to win by a neck and post the third fastest time of :15.690 seconds. Jockey Luis Vivanco rode the $12,000 LQHBA summer sale graduate for owner Juan Martinez and trainer Miguel Rodriguez. Tony Doughtie bred the Jess Louisiana Blue gelding from the Toast To Dash mare Shes A Royal Toast.

The Mighty Moose (#9), under jockey Noe Castaneda, qualifying in the 11th trial (Race 12) on Saturday.
© Hodges Photography
Also getting up to win by a neck was the Fast Prize Dash filly The Mighty Moose. Jockey Noe Castaneda rode the brown filly to victory in Race 12 while setting the fourth fastest time of :15.719 seconds. Eduardo Morales trains the $6,200 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate for owner Macedonio Salinas. Rebecca Brown bred The Mighty Moose from the King Corona mare Ko Ko Corona.

Wild Card Patriot (#9) gets up over fellow qualifier Guidry Pride II (#8) in the second trial (Race 3).
© Hodges Photography
Wild Card Patriot got up under jockey Gaspar Garcia in the second trial to defeat fellow qualifier Guidry Pride II by a nose. The Jose Espinosa-owned son of leading sire Game Patriot is trained by Raul Rodriguez. Bred by the partnership of Oscar, Touchet and Robicheaux, the brown colt clocked the fifth fastest time of :15.724 seconds. He is out of the Corona Cartel mare Awe Contraire.

Sir Runaway Dash was the only sire getting multiple qualifiers with two. He also sired 9th fastest qualifier Guidry Pride II. Jockey Noe Castaneda booted home three qualifiers.

Seven of the 10 finalists are graduates of the 2017 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

For the complete list of Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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About Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. 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.


Courtesy Ses