Put Me N Coach Impresses In Season Debut, Sets Top Mark In Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Monday

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 7, 2022—Graded-placed Put Me N Coach made his 3-year-old debut Monday with an impressive effort by winning the opening trial for the $106,964 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs.

The 10 fastest state-bred qualifiers will return to the Bossier City raceway on Sunday, March 27th to vie for the winner's share of the purse valued at $48,133.

Under jockey David Alvarez, Put Me N Coach sprinted clear quickly then drew off to win by two-lengths. He completed the 400 yards in :19.511 seconds, equaling a 106 speed index, with at 15 mph tailwind., to establish the fastest time.

Third in the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) last year, Put Me N Coach races for owner Lorena Morales and is trained by Rosendo Valdez, Jr.

"I did not have him in my barn last year," said Valdez. "The owner (Lorena Morales) sent him to me two months ago. I had kept up with him, so was happy to take over his training. He's a nice, laid-back horse in the barn, but very fast when he gets on the racetrack. We might have been lucky to draw the first trial, but he definitely showed up today!"

 

Valdez trained the 2021 Mardi Gras Derby winner Apollitical High for his father, so would love to win the final again this year.

"Apollitical High was not the fastest qualifier last year," recalled Valdez. "But he's one of our top horses and qualified for both the Delta Downs Derby and LQHBA Breeders Derby. We look forward to running Put Me in Coach in this year's Mardi Gras Derby."

Shortstop Racing bred the son of multiple stakes sire Carters Cartel from the First Prize Perry mare Alizoom. Put Me N Coach was also a finalist in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) last season. He has won five of eight starts and earned $72,932.

He Aint Political, a son of leading sire Apollitical Blood, put in a late run in the third trial to defeat post-time favorite Quid Pro Quo while setting the second fastest clocking of :19.616 seconds, a 103 speed index with a 15 mph tailwind.

 

Trainer Martin Trejo named jockey Everardo Rodriguez to ride the bay gelding for owner Ruben Juan Casas. Bred by Nash Development, from the First Down Dash mare Ifuaintfirstulast, the three-time winner entered today's trials off a third-place effort in an Optional Claim at LAD January 24th. He Aint Political paid $18 to win.

Runner-up Quid Pro Quo is a restricted Grade 2 winning son of Five Bar Cartel. Entering off a win in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile(RG2) in his last start December 11th, Quid Pro Quo held onto the third-fastest clocking of :19.621 seconds, a 103 speed index. He was also a finalist in the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) last summer at Delta.

Jockey David Alvarez rode the four-time winner for owner Jeronimo Silva. Bred by Gerard Hebert from the Tempting Dash mare Jess Tempting, Quid Pro Quo has banked $94,332 in eight career starts.

Stratosphear, a son of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess, ran a big race in the closing trial defeating San Lorenzo Dash by a head to get the fourth fastest clocking of :19.791 seconds, a 98 speed index with a 12 mph tailwind.

Second in the Louisiana Juvenile last summer and fourth in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) in October, Stratosphear races for owner Guerras Racing Stable. Jose Lopez trains the brown gelding out of the Corona Cartel mare Corona Starlette. Bred by Bobby D. Cox Stratosphear has banked $63,129 in nine starts.

For a complete list Mardi Gras Derby qualifiers, with times sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockey CLICK HERE.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is now owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. 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.