Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Set for Saturday

Louisiana Downs will host 12 trials on Saturday for the $300,000-est. Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2).

© Lou Hodges Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA—FEBRUARY 15, 2016—A total of 116 state-bred 2-year-olds, all of whom will be making their career debuts, has been entered in Saturday’s 300-yard Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) trials at Louisiana Downs.

Miguel Aguilar’s RDD Lajollanfastdash, a 3 1/4-length training race winner over the track on January 29, drew post 4 in the sixth of 12 trials. A $10,000 purchase at last year’s Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Yearling Sale, the gray son of Heza Fast Dash went 220 yards in :12.365 -- the fastest winning time from the 12 training races that day -- in preparation for his first lifetime start on Saturday.

Raul Ramirez Jr. will ride RDD Lajollafastndash for trainer Willie Simien Jr.

Chocolatebyelajolla, a daughter of Dashin Bye trained by Donald Watson Jr. for owner Karen Darling Falgoust, drew post 4 in the ninth heat. The filly prepped for her first out by winning a 220-yard schooling race by 1 3/4 lengths in :12.506.

Mario Trujillo has been named to ride Chocolatebyelajolla on Saturday.

Other January 29 training-race winners entered in this year’s Mardi Gras trials include Mallards Runaway Too. A gray daughter of Sir Runaway Dash and a full sister to the stakes placed Miss Runaway Dash, Mallards Runaway Too is trained by Raul Galvan for owner Maria Graciela Flores.

Mallards Runaway Too won her schooling race in :12.514 under jockey Jose Rodriguez, who will ride the filly from post 8 in the second trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $300,000-est. Mardi Gras Futurity final on March 12.

The Mardi Gras Futurity trials, and all Louisiana Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.