J & J STABLES HOPING TO WIN THE FIRST OFFICIAL FUTURITY OF THE YEAR

It is the dream of every breeder in Louisiana to win a Futurity and for the second year in a row, J & J Stables, LLC, has a finalist in the $315,166 Mardi Gras Futurity. It’s been a very good meet for Juan J. Bazaldua and Jesus E. Del Bosque, who banded together in 2017 with a mutual interest in breeding and racing.

In last year’s Mardi Gras Futurity, their finalist was second fastest qualifier, JJ Jess An Meteorite. The son of Jess An Idea out of the Meter Me Gone mare Meteorite, won his trial under Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. in :15.481 seconds. However, he did not break well in the final, finishing seventh. The black colt qualified for the Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs and completed his year with two wins from seven starts.

On March 14, the J & J Stables LLC color bearer will be One Sweet Filly, who won her trial in :15.597 seconds to set the second-fastest clocking of the afternoon. Sired by One Sweet Jess out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Filly Er Up, she is trained by leading Louisiana Downs trainer Jose Carrizales and ridden by the meet’s leading jockey, Ricardo Hernandez, Jr.

The co-owners of J & J Stables LLC are both successful businessmen; Bazaldua founded Pollo Regio, which began as a food truck concept in Mexico and now has multiple locations throughout Texas. Del Bosque’s field is roofing; he owns Axl Metal Roofing, LLC. Both men had owned horses separately but were encouraged by the opportunities that breeding Quarter Horses in Louisiana offered. In 2017, they incorporated J & J Stables and opened a farm in Keithville, Louisiana, in Caddo Parish, south of Shreveport.

“We had many conversations and realized that we had many things in common,” said Del Bosque. “That’s when we decided to breed our own line of racehorses.”

The partners have entrusted the training of their horses to Jose Carrizales. He is just 23-years-old but is having a tremendous meet at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs with stakes wins by Fantasicazoom Jr, and Ss Classyjess. In addition to One Sweet Filly, Carrizales also trains Mr Jj Pvc Eagle, a colt by One Dashing Eagle, also owned and bred by J & J Racing Stables. He was the third fastest qualifier in the March 1 trials for the $283,210 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3). That final will take place on Wednesday, March 18 with the Mardi Gras Futurity champion to be crowned on Saturday, March 14.

“These owners are good men and have been very supportive,” said Carrizales. “They started from zero but have put a great deal of time into studying bloodlines. You have to give them credit for how they choose their crosses.”

J & J Racing Stables LLC now have 20 mares and judging from the many winners this meet at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, they will also be a force at the upcoming 2020 Delta Downs Quarter Horse meet.

Racing and breeding in Louisiana mean a great deal to the owners and entire team at J & J Racing Stables LLC.

“All the races in Louisiana are competitive and this motivates us to work harder,” added Del Bosque. “It’s a very gratifying feeling to see the accomplishment of our horses and know that we are heading in the right direction. And winning our first futurity would be a dream come true!

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

The LQHBA Insider is a monthly feature written by Martha Claussen for www.lqhba.com. She served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.