The Grade 3 Treme Highlights Opening Day at Fair Grounds Thursday

Last year's LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) winner Jrs Taylor Runnaway will start in Thursday's $40,000 Treme Stakes (G3) on Thursday for owner Rosalio Espinosa.

© Lou Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, LA—AUGUST 13, 2018 – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots kicks of its 2018 Quarter Horse meet on Thursday (Aug 16).

Post time for the ten-race card is 12:30 pm (Central) and will feature the meet’s first stakes race, the $40,000 Treme Stakes(G3) with a competitive field of nine accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds going 350 yards.

Jrs Taylors Runnaway will break from post position five under jockey Jorge Linares for owner Rosalio Espinosa. The son of Sir Runaway Dash, bred in Louisiana by Julien R Stevens III, had an exceptional second half of 2017. He won the $297,220 LQHBA Sale Futurity last September at Fair Grounds and finished third in the LQHBA Louisiana Million on December 16.

Trained by Martin Trejo, the sorrel gelding completed his 2-year-old campaign with a record of four wins from seven starts. He will be seeking his first win as a 3-year-old and has already earned $280,320.

Trejo will also saddle Gerardo. Ibara’s A Canadian Chill, a son of Igotyourtac, who will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez.

Second Down Leaving, owned by Eulalio Argote and Victor Alvarado, will be ridden by Antonio Alberto for trainer Robert Meche. Bred by Grant Farms, the son of Coronas Leaving You ran second to Jrs Taylors Runnaway in last year’s LQHBA Sale Futurity and will be making his fifth start of 2018 for trainer Robert Meche. He won the Billy Montgomery Stakes at Louisiana Downs in January and exits a third-place finish in the $288,655 Delta Downs Derby on July 7.

2017 LQHBA and AQHA Champion Trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. will saddle two in the opening day feature. Gunna Be Alright, owned by Gladney 1 LLC has been installed as the 7-2 morning line favorite. Sired by leading stallion Heza Fast Dash, the sorrel gelding will be making his 11th start with his highest earnings coming from his fourth-place finish in the LQHBA Louisiana Million. Luis Vivanco has the call. David Alvarez will pilot Jls Dash N Fire for Roberts. Owned by TM Ranch, the son of Heza Fast Dash won the 2017 Laddie Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs and will make his first start as a gelding in the Treme. Roberts won last year’s Treme with Charles J. Boudreaux Jr.'s First Prize Bourban

Here is the field, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Heza Fast Beau (John Hamilton), 20-1
2. Gunna Be Alright, (Luis Vivanco), 7-2
3. Razzatoni (Donald Watson), 10-1
4. Jrs Dash N Fire (David Alvarez), 8-1
5. Jrs Taylors Runnaway (Jorge Linares), 5-1
6. Jess a Corona Baby (Floriberto Maldonado), 12-1
7. Second Down Leaving (Antonio Alberto), 3-1
8. A Canadian Chill (Everardo Rodriguez), 9-2
9. Eye Am Sizzlin (Ricardo Hernandez Jr.), 10-1

Post time is 12:30 pm (Central) with the Treme Stakes set as race 9 with an estimated post time of 4:06 pm. On Friday, August 17, trials will be run for the $420,000 LQHBA Sale Futurity, with 11 heats on the program. Stakes action continues on Saturday, August 18 with the running of the $40,000 Audubon and $25,000 Gentilly Dash.

Further information on the Fair Ground Quarter Horse meet can be found on fgno.com.