Hes Bold As Corona Breaks Maiden In Richest Ever Mardi Gras Futurity

Hes Bold As Corona, under jockey Jorge Garcia, winning the restricted Grade 2 $458,794 Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs Saturday.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 30, 2024–Hes Bold As Corona (9-1) bounced off a third-place finish in the trials to win the richest ever $458,734 Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) for Louisiana-bred juveniles on Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

Hes Bold As Corona broke well under jockey Jorge Garcia then put away runner-up Uuzzi to complete the 300 yards in :15.465 seconds, a 97 speed index into a 10 mph headwind. The half-length margin of victory earned the gray gelding a $206,457 payday.

Guillermo Martinez conditions the son of champion sire Coronas Leaving You for owner Asael Isidoro Charmin. Salvador Olmeda bred the colt from the Desirio mare Shes Bold As Bold. The third dam is the Grade 1 Las Damas Handicap winner Shiny Six by Streakin Six.

"In his trial, he was trying to get in, but just got beaten by a length" said  assistant trainer Luis Martinez. "We changed a few things with his equipment and made a call to (jockey) Jorge (Garcia), who had worked him on our ranch in Vinton. Jorge stood him in the gates on Monday and felt he was ready to go. It was good that he broke well as the horses in the middle were tangled up. This was our first major futurity win; we knew we would be a longshot, but felt he had a chance!"

Runner-up Uuzzii, a $23,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase, earned $77,995 for finishing second. Ubaldo Luna had the riding call aboard the Freightttrain B gelding for owner 2 Kings Racing LLC and trainer Adrian Huitron. Darrel Willis bred the brown gelding from the One Sweet Jess mare Bp One Sweet Policy.

The winning connections of Hes Bold As Corona accept the Mardi Gras Futurity stakes trophy Saturday at Louisiana Downs. © Ann Switalski Photography

You Fly I Buy picked up $45,879 for his third-place finish. Trainer Santiago Villaseca conditions the $7,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate for owner Cuadra Tortuga LLC.  Earl Landry, Jr. and Randy Rodrigue bred the You Drive I Fly colt from the Five Bar Cartel mare Beyond Da Bar.   He has banked $50,079 with one win in two starts.

Hes Bold As Corona returned $19.80 to win, $9.60 to place and $4.60 to show. Uuzzii paid $ $6.60 to place and $4.60 to show. You Fly I Buy paid $4.40 to show.

Rf Imperial Choice, Blues Train Too, Pilot Perry, Aniston Tlc, Corona Two Socks, Lady Coco Piloto and This Ladys Leaving 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 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.