$41,649 Louisiana Downs Maiden Stake Highlights Saturday's Card At Harrah's Louisana Downs

Da Pool Do setting the fastest qualifying time in the January 20 Maiden Stakes trials at Louisiana Downs.

© Lou Hodges Photography

Atimely Touch, owned by Bryon Gardner, was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The 3-year-old son of Jess Louisiana Blue out of the Corona Cartel mare Modern Touch was bred by High-Value Resources LLC. His record includes two wins and a fourth-place finish in the $266,140 Laddie Futurity last May at Delta Downs. Jockey Gilbert Ortiz will guide the bay gelding from post position eight. Trainer Trey Ellis reports that all systems are go for Atimely Touch, who won his trial in :18.163, the seventh fastest clocking of the day.

"He was sick with a cold and didn't run like himself in his trial," said Ellis. "But he is doing really well now, and we like our draw."

Da Pool Do, owned and trained by Jose D. Barron, won his trial in :17.977, breaking his maiden and setting the fastest qualifying time. Cleaton M. Leger bred the 3-year-old colt by Pool out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Royal Winning Colors. Jose Rodriguez guided Da Pool Do from the rail in his trial win but will break from the far outside post in the final. Barron, 29, has been training for just three years and is hoping that Da Pool Do will give him his first stakes win.

"He ran a great trial and we just let him take it easy for the first week after the race," reported Barron. "Everything is going well so far. He's never raced from the far outside, so hopefully he will do as well from that post as he did from the rail."

That trial also produced the second-fastest qualifier, Jls Tee Cos Jr., a son of Tee Cos, who was bred by Jls -Speedhorse Ranch Inc. and will be ridden by Juan Garcia, Jr. Owned by Pina-Garcia Ranch and Gonzalez Racing, the bay gelding, who is still a maiden, is trained by Wendy Garcia.

Post position could be a significant factor for Rf Shez Leaving You, a 3-year-old daughter of Coronas Leaving You who will break from the four hole under the meet's leading rider Damian Martinez. The Rogers Farm homebred is blind in her left eye, due to an accident as a weanling according to her conditioner Vann Haywood.

"Tim and Jennie Rogers got her to a vet immediately and were able to save her eye, but she has no vision on the left," said Haywood. "She drew outside in her trial and could not see the horses coming to her inside. Breaking from the four hole will be better for her."

Despite the tough beginning, the gray filly qualified to the LQHBA Louisiana Million last November, finishing eighth to You Drive I Fly. Her career earnings of $38,030 are the highest in the field for this weekend's featured race.

The Louisiana Downs Maiden Stake will run as the sixth race on Saturday. Here is the field, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Jls Tee Cos Jr. (Juan Garcia, Jr.), 10-1
2. Yawls Danny (Alfonso Lujan), 15-1
3. Dales Cartel (Everardo Rodriguez), 12-1
4. Rf Shez Leaving You (Damian Martinez), 9-2
5. Little Toy Guns (Mario Trujillo, Jr.), 20-1
6. Rf a Faster Chick (Floriberto Maldonado), 8-1
7. Izit Real (Noe Castaneda), 6-1
8. Atimely Touch (Gilbert Ortiz) 3-1
9. Razzaroni (Raul Ramirez, Jr.) 5-1
10. Da Pool Do (Jose A. Rodriguez) 6-1

Louisiana Downs Trainer, Jockey and Owner Standings

Through February 5, Vann Haywood tops his fellow conditioners with 11 wins. Javier Noel Contreras, who won the $25,000 Magnolia Stakes last Saturday with Jw Who Dat, is second in the standings with nine victories. Last year's leading trainer, Orlando Orozco has won eight races and is tied with Kenny Roberts in third-place.

There is no doubt that there will be a very close battle as well for the jockey title! Damian Martinez added three wins last week to top his fellow riders with 14 trips to the winner's circle. Antonio Alberto, who has guided Jw Who Dat to two stakes victories this meet, is tied with Everardo Rodriguez for second. They have each won 13 races and David Alvarez follows closely with 10 wins.

Manuel Alvarez and Joe M. Davis share the lead in the owner standings with five wins each. Two The Max Investments LLC, and Geral Dewitt follow with four winners and six owners have each won three races so far in the 2018 Quarter Horse meet.

Louisiana Downs Dates and Post Times

The 2018 Quarter Horse racing season at Harrah's Louisiana Downs got underway on Saturday, January 6. The 46-day meet includes 12 stakes highlighted by the first official championship for 2-year-olds, the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity on March 17. Live racing will take place Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a 1:00 p.m. (Central) post time and will continue through March 21.

To see a complete list of the stakes schedule, including trial dates, CLICK HERE.

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.

Fast N Famous Eagle, under jockey Rolando Pina, were easy winners' in the first-division of the Swift Stakes Saturday afternoon at Louisiana Downs.