Jess A Cajun Steps Up In $428,475 LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1)

NEW ORLEANS, LA—AUGUST 17, 2019—Coming off a $20,000 claiming win on June 29th, Jess A Cajun stepped today to score a neck victory over Brileys Prize while posting the fastest qualifying time for the $428,475 LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) Saturday afternoon at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the 102 state-bred two-year-olds who participated in 11 trial races, will return to New Orleans on Saturday, September 7th to vie for the winner's purse valued at $192,475. Each of today's participants passed through the sale ring of the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale in Kinder, Louisiana.

Under jockey Luciano Duenez, Jess A Cajun completed the 350 yard task in :17.529 seconds, a 95 speed index into a 10 mph crosswind, to post the top qualifying mark.

"I've ridden him in each of his starts, but had trouble," Duenez after the race. "Today he broke better than ever; was just rolling down the lane."

Trainer Kenneth Weeks saddled the son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash for new owner Lester Columb who purchased him from a partnership last week.

"Three partners bought him (at the LQHBA Sale) and he was really small," Weeks told Martha Claussen following the race. "I ran him a couple of times and he got beat up! I always had confidence in him—he just needed a chance. He really stood out today."

Jason Richards, Roddy Richards and Jason Mills purchased the sorrel gelding for $25,00 in last summer's LQHBA Yearling Sale. Bred by Harris Rs Inc. and Robicheaux Ranch, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jessy Jane, Jess A Cajun has compiled a (5) 2-0-0 record and banked $19,125 this season.

Hez Jess A Cartel broke his maiden in the fourth trial for owner High Value Resources LLC and trainer Elroy Potts, Sr. to get the second fastest time. John Hamilton rode the Five Bar Cartel colt to a clocking of :17.757 seconds, equaling a 94-speed index.

Rick S. Boutte bred the sorrel colt from Shez Jess A Cutie by Mr Jess Perry. Also a $25,000 LQHBA Sale graduate, Hez Jess A Cartel has compiled a (4) 1-0-1 record and earned $10,365.

The aforementioned Brileys Prize held on for the 3rd fastest clocking of : 17.577 seconds, also a 94-speed index. Mardonio Flores, Jr. trains the son of multiple stakes sire AJs Fast Dash for owner RC Stables LLC. Arnold Trahan bred Brileys Prize from the Mr Jess Perry mare Ms Wandas Prize. He was a $15,000 repurchase. Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. was riding.

For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the 2019 LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) CLICK HERE.

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