Two-Year-Old Konnan Cartel Gets Second Consecutive Win In Louisiana Downs Feature Monday

Konnan Cartel, under jockey Ubaldo Luna, scores his second consecutive win in as many starts on Monday at Louisiana Downs

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

BOSSIER CITY, LA—APRIL 4, 2022—Konnan Cartel, a 2-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Five Bar Cartel, raced to his second consecutive win, in as many starts, in a $34,000 open feature allowance at Louisiana Downs today.

Konnan Cartel cleared the field promptly under jockey Ubaldo Luna then flew to a one-length win. He stopped the timer in :15.736 seconds, equaling an 87 speed index into a 8 mph headwind for 300 yards.

Champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. conditions the brown gelding for owner-breeder Luis Armando Castellanos. Konnan Cartel earned $20,400 for today's win.

"We feel pretty good about this horse," said Roberts. "In his Mardi Gras trial, the wind was a factor and a horse flipped and the field had to be unloaded. He still won but didn't leave as good as we had hoped. Today, he just shot out of the gates and ran a real good race."

After posting the fastest time from 18 schooling races for state-bred futurity hopefuls conducted at Louisiana Downs February 12th, Konnan Cartel backed that up with a solid one-length win his Mardi Gras Futurity trial on March 6th.

Paid into the Laddie Futurity(RG2) and Lee Berwick Futurity(G1), Konnan Cartel is out of the Jet Black Patriot mare Jet Black Chiraq. The second dam is the multiple stakes-placed Brookstone Bay mare Shawne Bay. He did not go through the LQHBA Yearling Sale last year so he is not eligible for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs this fall.

Also starting off a Mardi Gras Futurity trial win, runner-up One Off picked up $6,800 for his second-place effort.  Trainer Gilberto Rosales named jockey Leonardo Rodriguez to ride the son of first-crop sire RC Me Leaving You for owner Yesenia Nunez.

Bennie and Teri Jeter bred the One Off from the Azoom mare Kanzoom. He is a $9,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate.

Sendsation, a Tempting Dash gelding who was third in his Louisiana Downs Futurity trial debut on March 13^th, finished a neck back to get his second consecutive third-place finish.

Trainer Dustin Rhodes saddled the Texas-bred from the Corona Cartel mare Jess Send Corona for owner Lance Moore. Michael Amburn is the breeder and David Alvarez had the riding call. Moore paid $32,000 for Sendsation at the 2021 TQHA Yearling Sale in San Antonio.

Miss Jojo Piloto, Miss Apolitical, Jm Tee Cos Mon Coeur, Private Oak Doc, Blue Bueno, Bad Girl Jess and Jj Kicjess Princess completed the field.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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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.