Fastest Qualifier Ultimo Alex Leads A Competitive Field In $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity Saturday

BOSSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 22, 2021—An exceptional afternoon of Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, March 27 at Louisiana Downs. The seven-race card gets underway at 1:00 p.m. (Central) and will be highlighted by the first “official” futurity of the year, the $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2).

In addition, the ten fastest 3-year-olds from trials held on March 7 will return for the final of the $121,158 Mardi Gras Derby ( see related story).

On Saturday March 6, Louisiana Downs ran 17 trials for the biggest race of the 2021 Quarter Horse meet, the $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2). Each were contested at a distance of 300 yards over a fast track, and the first trial produced the time to beat! Jorge Haddad’s homebred Ultimo Alex broke his maiden convincingly in his debut, as he crossed the wire in :15.517 seconds under Luis Vivanco. Sired by Inseperable out of the Corona Cartel mare Cindys First CD, the bay colt prepped for his trial at Retama Park. He drew off by a margin of two lengths, earning a speed index of 95. Haddad, who owns Haddad Ranch in Seguin, Texas, also owns and trains the talented colt.

“He came out of his trial really well,” said Haddad. “ Ultimo Alex impressed me from an early age galloping in the pasture. Luckily, he is very calm for a colt.”

He will break from the far outside post, under Vivanco at odds of 2-1.

“I like our post,” said Haddad, who will arrive on Friday with his colt. “A fast horse can win from anywhere. We are looking forward to the final!”

Gamefaceprize won the fourth trial for owner Miguel Hernandez with rider Rolando Pina in the saddle. He led gate-to-wire in:15.565 seconds, earning a 93 speed index as he set the second fastest clocking of the card. The gelded son of Fast Prize Dash out of the Game Patriot mare Baby This Girls Game was bred by Jack Willie. He competed in schooling races last month, and although he did not win his heat, trainer Orlando Orozco was not surprised by his trial performance.

“As a yearling, he was a handful,” said Orozco. “We gelded him early in his training and he always showed talent. The schooling race helped him with his focus; we look forward to the final.”

Pina has the return call aboard the bay gelding. He drew post position seven as the second betting choice at odds of 4-1.

Put Me N Coach, a $20,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate bred by Shortstop Racing, won the 11th trial by 1-¼ lengths under jockey David Alvarez to get the third fastest clocking of :15.633 seconds. Juan Carillo, Jr. conditions the bay son of Carters Cartel out of Allizoom by First Prize Perry for owner Lorena Morales. Shortstop Racing is the breeder. Carillo will give the mount to Jesse Levario as David Alvarez will ride Bf Bosslady in the final.

“He did really well in his trial,” said Carillo. “Jesse came to our farm in Tyler, Texas, to gallop him. We only have one two-year old in training this year, so we are happy to be in the final.”

It is unusual to see LQHBA champion owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. and LQHBA champion jockey David Alvarez at odds of 20-1 with Bf Bosslady. The filly, sired by BF Farm Boss was bred by Jim and Natalie Montgomery, who were also recognized as co-breeder of the year by LQHBA. She won her trial in :15.767 seconds in the eighth-fastest clocking.

“We didn’t run her in schooling races due to the winter storm,” said Marquez. “Just didn’t want to risk traveling from Texas. So when she won her trial, with no experience other than a work at Sam Houston, we were very happy. Joe Garza broke her and felt she was going to be a good one!”

Trainer Wendy Garcia, who won the 2018 Mardi Gras Futurity with Guidry Pride II saddled the sixth fastest qualifier, Guidrys Credit Card. The half-brother to Guidry Pride II was bred by Cynthia and Johnny Guidry; he is the son of Apollitical Blood out of the Panther Mountain mare Guidrys Boodie Doo. A schooling race winner on February 12 at Louisiana Downs, the sorrel colt was clocked at :15.714 under rider Modesto Pina, who is Garcia’s husband. They will break from post position eight at odds of 8-1.

“He is a feisty little guy,” explained Garcia. “In January, we wanted to geld him, but Johnny asked us not to! We are very happy and thankful to qualify for another Mardi Gras Futurity final. My brother Juan rode Guidry Pride II; I’m hoping I can win this one with my husband!”

Since its first running in 1988, the Mardi Gras Futurity launched the career of many of Louisiana’s greatest Quarter Horse champions. Vals Fortune won the 2003 edition of the Mardi Gras Futurity for owner Teddy Abrams, Jr. and trainer Heath Taylor. The striking chestnut went on to win 20 of his 23 starts, becoming the first Louisiana-bred millionaire. Five years later, Jet Black Patriot, bred and owned by Richard and Janelle Simon, stamped his name in the record books, winning the Mardi Gras, Lee Berwick and LQHBA Breeders Futurity, with a runner-up finish in the All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs as well.

The $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) will run as the sixth race on the card, with an approximate post time of 3:00 pm (Central). Here is the field, in post-position order, including jockey assignments and odds:

1. La Jetn Cartel (Ali Rivera), 30-1
2. Jess Dash Fast (Jorge Garcia), 20-1
3. Kk Sandra Patriot (Nestor Duran), 6-1
4. Goat (Jose Rodriguez), 6-1
5. Put Me N Coach (Jesse Levario), 5-1
6. Bf Bosslady (David Alvarez), 20-1
7. Gamefaceprize (Rolando Pina), 4-1
8. Guidrys Credit Card (Modesto Pina), 8-1
9. Tf Jess Me (Everardo Rodriguez), 12-1
10. Ultimo Alex (Luis Vivanco) 2-1

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Mardi Gras Handicapping Seminar Begins at Noon on Saturday, March 27

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a Mardi Gras handicapping seminar on Saturday, March 27 at noon.

The free seminar will be held in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. McGary and Claussen will offer their selections for each of the races on the Saturday card and in-depth analysis of the $349,946 Mardi Gras Futurity and $121,790 Mardi Gras Derby.

LQHBA Scholarship Drawings Set for Saturday, March 27

Breeding and racing are certainly top priorities for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA), but one very important goal of the association is to promote education for Louisiana youth. Since 2001, the LQHBA scholarship program has granted over $650,000 for students attending a higher education institution.

In the continuing tradition of combining recognition of youth on big race days, five students will be awarded $1,000 scholarships on Mardi Gras Futurity and Derby Day, March 27 at Louisiana Downs. Registration begins at 11:00 am and students MUST BE PRESENT when the drawings take place after the fifth race of the afternoon card. For further information, visit LQHBA.com.

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About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December 2002. 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.