Lafitte Stays Undefeated in 2023 After Winning $14,000 Feature Allowance at LAD, 2YO's Debut

Lafitte, ridden by Arturo Alvarez, wins the $14,000 Feature Allowance at Louisiana Downs on Wednesday.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA–FEBRUARY 3, 2023–Piloted by Jockey Arturo Alvarez, Lafitte takes his second win of the season in the $14,000 Feature Allowance at Louisiana Downs on Wednesday.

Leaving the gates in fifth place, Alvarez and Lafitte found their stride three wide from the rail and were in the lead by first call, keeping it to the wire. The duo clocked an 85 speed index in :46.888 seconds for a 3/4-length win over Jess Perfect Moon and Arnulfo Gutierrez.

The 870-yard victory paid $4.20 on a $2.00 wager for the post-time favorite. The $8,400 winner’s share of the purse upped Lafitte’s lifetime earnings to $105,103.

Wednesday’s Feature Allowance race is the second 870-yard victory this year for Lafitte who is conditioned by Guillermo Martinez. With five lifetime wins, the five-year-old son of Sir Runaway Dash also placed 3rd in the Races and Aces Stakes and was a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity (G1) and LQHBA Sale Juvenile Stakes earlier in his career.

Bred by L Casterline and E Aparicio, Lafitte is owned by Luis Armando Castellanos. The Louisiana-bred gelding is out of Me And Only Me by Streakin La Jolla. 

Runner-up Jess Perfect Moon tucked out of the gates in the lead, but was caught by Lafitte, for a second place finish 2 1/4-lengths ahead of Freakin Patriot Dash and jockey Ubaldo Luna.

Trainer Angel Almaguer saddled Jess Perfect Moon for owners Cheryl and Carey Housman, DVM. The three-time winning son of Ja Jess Perfect has $53,014 in the bank.

Bred by Bryon Garner, of Louisiana, Jess Perfect Moon is out of Dash N To The Moon by Reckless Dash.

Conditioned by Joel Huitron, Freakin Patriot Dash came in third for owner Areli Gutierrez. The 11-time winner has $182,984 in career earnings, including a victory in the Magnolia Stakes earlier in his career. Bred by Robert Touchet of Louisiana, the eight-year-old son of Game Patriot is out the the Streak And Dash mare Freakin Dash. 

Rounding out the order of finish is Princess Classic, Jess Ray Ray, Risco Candy Man and Mason Jet Black. Patriot Mountain was scratched by the veterinarian.

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Louisiana Downs also featured three maiden races for 2-year-olds on Wednesday’s card, race #1, #2 and #5.

Race #1 - Luna Ubaldo guided Corona In The Dark to a 1 1/2-length victory after being bumped at the gate. The daughter of KVN Corona crossed the wire of the 250-yard maiden race in :13.818 seconds.

This was the first career start for Corona In the Dark who is trained by Bradley Bolen. Bred by Meghan Simpson of Oklahoma, the two-year-old filly out of Grinchy by Valiant Hero was sold to her current owner Jose Alfredo Serrano for $18,000 in last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Race #2 - After 10 career attempts, Rags To Richez, with Eleazar Hernandez in the irons, finally breaks his maiden in the 350-yard race. Trained by Leonel Hernandez, the son of Inseperable scored the 1/2-length victory in :18.152 seconds against a 7 mph head wind. 

The $6,000 winner’s share of the purse upped Rags To Richez’ career earnings to $17,228. Breeder Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, LLC sold the three-year old out of Ancient Days by FDD Going Grand for $15,500 in the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling sale. The three-year-old gelding is currently owned by Hector Menchaca.

Race #5 - With 12-1 odds at the start, Jrs Cute Cartel, ridden by Juan Garcia Jr, broke her maiden in the 250-yard race in :13.617 seconds. This respectable victory was the first career start for the daughter of Mr Piloto. 

Jrs Cute Cartel’s long shot victory paid $27.00 to win on a $2.00 wager and put $6,000 in her bank. Jrs Cute Cartel’s trainer Paul Rigdon also owns her in partnership with Gyth and Donovan Rigdon. Bred by Julien Stevens III of Louisiana, the two-year-old filly is out of Cute N Shiny by First To Shine.