News - Headlines March  28, 2024

Hes A Fast Blood Handily Wins His Trial Heat & Clocks Fastest Time To The $104,332 Mardi Grad Derby


Hesa Fast Blood, piloted by Arturo Alvarez, clocks fastest qualifying time to $104,332 Mardi Grad Derby at Louisiana Downs on Saturday afternoon.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 11, 2023–The $104,332 Mardi Grad Derby hosted by Louisiana Downs Saturday afternoon held four trials for the three-year-old contenders. With all four races boasting a 10 mph head wind, it wasn’t until the final trial, race 8, that Hes A Fast Blood set the time to beat for qualification to the 400-yard race.

Piloted by Arturo Alvarez, Hes A Fast Blood steals the lead at the first stretch and crosses the wire 1 3/4-lengths ahead of Genuine Betrayal. The impressive victory was clocked in :20.114 seconds with a 92 speed index. With 5-2 odds at post-time the win paid $9.00 on a $2.00 bet.

Trainer Javier N. Hernandez conditions the son of Apollitical Blood, who won two races last year at Evangeline Downs prior to running fourth in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile on December 17.

“He was a very good horse last year,” said Hernandez. “But I was very surprised at his time today as he did not show that speed in his last start at Evangeline Downs. We are very happy to qualify for this.”

Breeder Nash Development sold Hes A Fast Blood to his current owner Laura Saldana for $12,500 in the 2021 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. The three-year-old colt is out of the Heza Fast Dash stakes winning mare Mcm Sheza Fast Cutie. 

Mp Dont Look, piloted by Ali Rivera, clocks second fastest qualifying time to $104,332 Mardi Grad Derby at Louisiana Downs on Saturday afternoon. © Ann Switalski Photography

Second fastest qualifier Mp Dont Look broke out best from the gates of trial 3 with Ali Rivera guiding him to a one-length wire-to-wire victory over Electric Cartel. The post-time favorite clocked a 92 speed index in :20.118 seconds and it paid $5.40 to win on a $2.00 wager.

Conditioned by Fernando Valdez, Mp Dont  Look’s $3,600 winner’s share of the purse upped his lifetime earnings to $44,290. The son of Mr Piloto has lit the board seven of eight starts with four career wins.

Breeder Grant Farms, LLC sold Mp Dont Look to his current owner Rosendo Valdez for $18,000 in the 2021 LQHBA Yearling Sale. The three-year-old gelding is out of Grade 3 winner Mcm Dont Look Back by First To Shine.

The third fastest time came from trial #2 with Five Bar Jess Cartel crossing the wire first in :20.263 seconds and an 88 speed index. Trained by Joel Huitron, the son of Five Bar Cartel has four wins with $66,350 in career earnings. 

Five Bar Jess Cartel is bred by Gerard Hebert and owned by Fausto Mendoza. The three-year-old colt is out of the Tempting Dash mare Jess Tempting To Fly, who is from the female family of Champions Heartswideopen, Hes Relentless and American Runaway. 

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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Mardi Gras Handicapping Seminar Begins at Noon on Saturday, March 25

Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a Mardi Gras handicapping seminar on Saturday, March 25 at noon. The free event will be held in the Longshot Lounge, (formerly the Inside Rail) located on the first floor of the grandstand. McGary and Claussen will offer their selections for each of the races on the Saturday card and in-depth analysis of the Louisiana Downs Futurity, Mardi Gras Futurity. Mardi Gras Oaks and Mardi Gras Derby.

LQHBA Scholarship Drawings Set for Saturday, March 25

Breeding and racing are certainly top priorities for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA), but one very important goal of the association is to promote education for Louisiana youth.  Since 2001, the LQHBA scholarship program has granted over $800,000 for students attending a higher education institution. Three students will win Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) Scholarships. For the second year in row, Louisiana Downs will generously contribute $3,000 to match the three LQHBA Scholarships.

Three drawings of $2,000, a total of $6,000 will be offered to Louisiana students wishing to further their education.  Scholarship entrants must be a Louisiana High School graduate or a Louisiana High School student graduating in 2023 planning to attend a higher education institution. Louisiana residents enrolled in a Louisiana College or University are also eligible. Students can sign up at the LQHBA Scholarship Registration Table (located on the first floor), beginning at 11:00 am.

Registration will close after the third race of the afternoon program and LQHBA board members, Louisiana Downs officials and special guests will conduct the drawings live in the winner’s circle after race four. Students must be present to win. For more information on the LQHBA Scholarship Program and eligibility requirements, visit LQHBA.com or call the LQHBA office in Alexandria at (318) 487-9506.

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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.


Courtesy Ses