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Mardi Gras Derby Trials Draw 46 Louisiana-Bred Sophomores


Lassie Futurity(RG2) winner Sheza Freighttrain T will head Sunday's Mardi Gras Derby trials at Louisiana Downs.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 3, 2021—Forty-six state-bred 3-year-olds, headed by Patrick Richardson’s Sheza Freighttrain T, are entered in Sunday’s 400-yard Mardi Gras Derby (R) trials at Louisiana Downs.

A brown daughter of Freighttrain B trained by Eric Long, Sheza Freighttrain T is coming off of a 2-year-old campaign during which she earned $319,979 from seven races and scored a head victory on a sloppy track in the 330-yard, $329,000 Louisiana Breeders’ Lassie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs on July 3. The filly drew post 9 and will be ridden by Rolando Pina in the fourth of five trials.

Other prominent entries include Apollitical Chais, a son of Apollitical Blood trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr. for owner Pete A. Scarmardo, who purchased the brown gelding for $33,000 at the 2019 Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. Apollitical Chais ended his juvenile season with a wire-to-wire, three-quarter length win in the 400-yard, $40,000 LQHBA Million Juvenile Invitational Stakes (R) at Evangeline Downs on December 19.

Apollitical Chais drew post 6 and will be ridden by David Alvarez in the third heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Sunday’s trials will meet in the $100,000-est. Mardi Gras Derby final on March 27.


Courtesy Ses