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Running A Big Wave Leads Field In Saturday’s $302,010 Harrah’s Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs


Running A Big Wave under jockey, Eddie Sanchez, set the fastest qualifying time In the $302,010 Harrah's Futurity (G3) trials.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 29, 2021—When Louisiana Downs ran nine trials on March 13 for the $302,010 Harrah's Futurity (G3), there was one race that that produced multiple qualifiers into the final showdown.

The fifth trial of the afternoon was highlighted by the victory of Francisco J. Garza’s homebred Running A Big Wave, who covered 300 yards in 15.554 seconds; the fastest qualifying time. Additional runners from that heat will run in the final including runner-up J & J Stone Inc’s Lucky Dice who crossed the wire in :15.584; El Gansito, who finished third by a head with a :15.672 clocking and My Dynasty Kiss ran fourth in :15.688 seconds.

Running a Big Wave, a gelding by Big Daddy Cartel out the Wave Carver mare Wave Running, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite and will break from post position four under Eddie Sanchez. The Texas-bred is trained by his older brother, Jose Sanchez, III.

Coronadito winning the seventh trial under jockey Nestor Duran. © Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
“I feel he’s going to run a big race,” said Jose Sanchez, who trained 2018 Harrah’s Futurity champion Trump My Record . “When we first got Running a Big Wave from Mr. Garza, we liked his conformation and felt he was a well-balanced juvenile. We work our horses in company, usually five at a time, and he showed us that he could break well and get to the front.”

Trainer Joel Huitron and current Louisiana Downs leading rider David Alvarez will team up with Lucky Dice, who finished just a neck behind Running a Big Wave, to set the second-fastest clocking. The colt by One Sweet Jess out of the First Down Dash mare Fodice is a $13,000 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale graduate and is the second choice at 4-1.

Florentino Leon’s homebred Coronadito showed promise in his debut, winning the seventh trial in :15.646 seconds with Nestor Duran in the saddle. Sired by Coronado Cartel by Winners Check (Gol to Go), he is trained by Adrian Huitron, who won the $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) on March 27 with Kk Sandra Patriot. Huitron will saddle Coranadito and El Gansito in the Harrah’s Futurity final. He explained how the two talented colts had contrasting personalities.

“Coronadito, from day one, has been professional,” said Huitron. “He is more like an older horse, than a young 2-year-old. But we have had our challenges with El Gansito! He’s a handful in the barn and in training. Both came back very well from their trials and we hope for another big day.”

Everardo Rodriguez has the call aboard Coronadito with Ali Rivera guiding El Gansito.

Trainer Alonso Neri qualified three for the final fifth-fastest qualifier On Nyx, a filly by Kiss My Hocks and My Dynasty Kiss, a colt also sired by Kiss My Hocks. His third finalist is Betterton, a colt by Duponte. All three are owned by TYKHE Racing LLC.

The $302,010 Harrah’s Futurity (G3) will run as the sixth race on the card, with an approximate post time of 3:00 pm (Central). Here is the field, in post-position order, including jockey assignments and odds:

  1. Betterton (Damian Martinez), 12-1
  2. Bombay Shaker (Modesto Pina), 10-1
  3. Lucky Dice (David Alvarez), 4-1
  4. Running a Big Wave (Eddie Sanchez), 5-2
  5. Kozmos Spoetzl (Luis Vivanco), 20-1
  6. Fiery Passage (Donald Watson), 20-1
  7. Coronadito (Everardo Rodriguez), 9-2
  8. On Nyx (Victor Urieta, Jr.), 6-1
  9. My Dynasty Kiss (Antonio Alberto), 12-1
  10. El Gansito (Ali Rivera) 5-1

Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse Season Wraps on Wednesday, April 7.

There are just eight more days remaining in the 2021 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse meet. Live racing will be contested Monday, March 29, Tuesday, March 30, Wednesday March 31, Saturday, April 3, Sunday, April 4, Monday, April 5, Tuesday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 7, which is the final day of the 2021 Quarter Horse meet.

Post time for each of the remaining days is 1:00 pm (CT).

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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.


Courtesy Ses