News - Headlines March  29, 2024

Soft On The Freight Tops 18 Mardi Gras Schooling Races Friday


Soft On Freight battles The Rogue Warrior for the fastest time in 18 schooling races for the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) Friday afternoon at Louisiana Downs.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

BOSSIER CITY, LA—FEBRUARY 12, 2021—Soft On Freight, a $6,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale Graduate, posted the fastest time from 85 2-year-olds who participated in 18 250 yard schooling races for Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) eligible Louisiana-breds Friday afternoon at Louisiana Downs.

Trials for the $350,000-est. restricted Grade 2 event will be contested at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, March 6th and the final will run back on Saturday, March 27th.

Under jockey David Alvarez, Soft On The Freight battled The Rogue Warrior to victory in the sixth races as the pair posted the top two-times of :12.126 and :12.185 seconds respectively.

Trainer Luis Martinez conditions Soft On The Freight for owner Jesus Villarreal. The Freighttrain B filly, from the RG2-placed Jess Special mare Soft Summer Jess, is a half-sister to stakes winner Soft On The Coronas. This is the family of AQHA Racing champion 2-year-old Gelding's Love Charge and I'ma On. Donald Aymond is the breeder.

Goat, a $5,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale Graduate, posted the third fastest clocking of :12.210 seconds after winning Race 9. © Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Runner-up in race 6, The Rogue Warrior is a Jet Black Patriot colt owned by Tomas Saenz III and Sergio Perez. R. Hernandez, Jr. had the riding call for trainer Yoni Martinez. The $18,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate is out of the multiple stakes winning Heza Fast Dash mare Jess A Rogue. Bred by Triple M Farms, this is the immediate family of stakes winners Jet Black Rogue and Heza Fast Rogue.

Goat, a son of champion and second-crop sire Open Me A Corona, won the ninth race, under jockey J.A. Rodriguez, to get the third fastest time of :12.210 seconds. Also trained by Luis Martinez, the $5,500 LQHBA Yearling graduate is owned by Ofelia Rodriguez. Bred by Delta Equine Center LLC, Goat is out of the stakes-producing Streakin La Jolla mare Blazin La Jolla. A half-sister to stakes-placed Somebodysknocken, Goat is from the family of world champion Dashs Dream.

Jrs Carters Baby G, under jockey J.A. Rodriguez, setting the fourth fastest time in Friday in Race 13.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Trainer Luis Martinez, jockey J.A. Rodriguez and owner Ofelia Rodriguez joined forces again in the 13th race with Jrs Carters Baby G to get the fourth fastest time of :12.282 seconds. The daughter of champion and multiple stakes sire Carters Cartel is out of Ms Beach Baby by Special Crown Royal. Julien R. Stevens III is the breeder.

Martinez led all trainers to saddle six winners on Friday. Champion trainer Kenny Roberts had three winners while Levi Mays and Wendy Garcia had two each.

Sires getting multiple winners today (two each) were Carters Cartel, Freighttrain B and Mr Piloto.

For a complete list of results in order of times for the 18 schooling races CLICK HERE.

Louisiana Downs will also offer schooling races for 2-year-olds paid into the Harrah’s Futurity on Friday, February 19.

About 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.

Live Quarter Horse racing is expected to resume on Saturday, February 20.

Courtesy Ses