One Sweet Filly Sets Fastest Qualifying Time For The $121,158 Mardi Gras Derby At Louisiana Downs

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 7, 2021—Louisiana Downs showcased an outstanding crop of Louisiana-bred juveniles in trials for the $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) on Saturday afternoon.

Today, the 3-year-olds were in action in five trials for the $121,158 Mardi Gras Derby. Sunny skies and a fast main track set the stage for the 400 yard trials with outstanding performances throughout the card.

The fastest clocking of the day came in the final trial when One Sweet Filly blazed to victory in :19.928 seconds under jockey Arturo Alvarez. Bred and owned by J & J Stables LLC, the daughter of One Sweet Jess out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Filly Er Up, showed her talent last year running fifth in the Mardi Gras Futurity and second in the Lassie Futurity last July at Delta Downs.

Jose Carrizales, who won his first training title last year at Louisiana Downs, conditions the brown filly who has won three of her five starts.

“She had knee surgery following the Lassie,” said Carrizales. “I am lucky to train for great owners who understood that she would need six months to recover before she could begin training for her 3-year-old season. We always knew she was a runner, but we were surprised to see her do this well off the layoff.”

It was also an excellent day for the father-son duo of owner Rosendo Valdez and his son Rosendo Valdez, Jr. who trains for the barn. They qualified three for the final, beginning with Dashing Jess Cuervo, who ran second to One Sweet Filly in :19.979 seconds.

Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. had the call aboard the daughter of Jess Cuervo who was bred by William Bernard Fournet from the Strong Hope mare Dashing Well. She won an allowance at Louisiana Downs on January 24 and will make her stakes debut in the Mardi Gras final.

Additionally, La Savanne won the first trial in a :20.113 seconds, which was the third-fastest time of the afternoon. The son of Jet Black Patriot out of the Jody O Toole mare Miss Phoebes O Toole was bred by Shelby Bernard and was making his eighth career start today under jockey David Alvarez.

He was the runner-up in the $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile last December at Evangeline Downs and prepped for his trial with an allowance victory here on February 8.

The father and son team also qualified Apollitical High who won the fourth trial in a time of :20.272 with David Alvarez in the saddle. Bred by Leroy Fontenot Jr, the son of Apollitical Blood out of the Toast to Dash mare Toastem Honi was bumped and ran sixth in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Juvenile, but had a much better trip as she won her second career effort this afternoon.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return on Saturday, March 27 with the winner to receive a check in the amount of $157,475. For a complete list of Mardi Gras Derby qualifiers, with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will host a Mardi Gras Handicapping Seminar at 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 27 at the Inside Rail at Louisiana Downs. They will preview the fields for each of the races on the card with an in depth look at each of the finalists for the Mardi Gras Futurity and Derby.

Live racing continues Monday and Tuesday at 1:00 pm. The 2021 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse meet will conclude on Wednesday, April 7.

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.