Dominating Debut Propels Tf Shez Jess Dashin to Fastest Time in $305,296 Mardi Gras Futurity Trials
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Louisiana Downs on Saturday, March 16th to vie for the $137,383 winner's share a the $100,000-added first official futurity of 2019. The restricted grade 2 event will be contested over 300 yards.
Tf Shez Jess Dashin turned a sharp effort under jockey Everardo Rodriguez in trial 6 when the daughter of multiple stakes sire Sir Runaway Dash won wire-to-wire by two lengths in the fastest clocking of :15.455 seconds, a 96 speed index on a sloppy (sealed) showery racing surface into a 10 mph crosswind.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
"We knew this filly was going to be good," Steven Tate part of the ownership group Down South Racing said after the trial race.
Tf Shez Jess Dashin is a half-sister to three black-type runners including RG2 Zia Derby winner Jess Ought To Flash and West Texas Juvenile winner Poison Sumac. The filly is out of the multiple stakes producing Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Ought To Go Now and was bred by Tate Farms.
"She has a nice bloodline and looks the part. We decided against running her in the schooling races; she worked on February 3 and we liked what we saw," he said.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
J & J Stables LLC's JJ Jess An Meteorite kicked off the day by posting a 1-¼ length win in the opening trial to record the second fastest time of :15.481 seconds. The son of Jess An Idea drew clear under jockey Ricardo Hernandez, Jr., in a sharp effort on the sloppy (sealed) course into a 10 mph crosswind . Trainer Willie Simien, Jr. conditions the homebred from the Meter Me Gone mare The Meteorite.
Multiple grade 1 sire Freighttrain B got the first of three qualifiers when Hh Gailforce defeated Train Of Diamonds by one-length in the fourth trial. Ridden by jockey Luciano Duenez, the bay filly clocked the third fastest time of :15.588 seconds, a 92 speed index to a 10 mph crosswind.
Jockey Rolando Pina rode Jrs Sir Pop A Top, a $12,500 Sir Runaway Dash LQHBA Yearling graduate, to a half- length victory in trial eight to record the fourth fastest time of :15.588 seconds, a 92 speed index into a 10 mph crosswind.
Trainer Joe Davis saddled the second foal from the Oak Tree Special mare, Pop A Top Special Pi, a half-sister to two black type including AQHA Racing Distance Champion B And G Fast Dash and RG3 winner La Mos Chingono. Oscar Rhone is the breeder.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
A homebred for owner-breeder Delfino Lozano, IV, Escandalo is conditioned by trainer Arturo Davilla, III. The bay filly out of Eyeing Miss Perry by Mr Jess Perry, is a half-sister to grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity finalist Mighty Zapata. The second dam is La Primera Del Ano Derby(G2) winner Louisiana Eye Opener, by Mr Eye Opener, the dam of Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby runner-up Dutcher and G1-placed Eye On Corona.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Raul Rodriguez saddled the gelding for owners Ashton Elder and Miguel Romero, Jr. Jacob Broussard bred Streakin Fast Rogue from the Game Patriot mare Streakin Game Patriot, a sister to RG2-placed Good Game Meg and RG3-placed Shes Got Game.
Multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot's Patriot On Ice defeated Mr Achievement B by a nose in trial 11. Ridden by jockey J.R. Ramirez, Patriot On Ice clocked a :15.631 time, a 90 speed index for the 300 yards, to get the seventh fastest qualifying time.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Champion sire Coronas Leaving You's Jrs Duel Fantasy was two-length winner in trial 9 to record the eighth fastest time of :15.639 seconds, a 90 speed index. Jose Lopez saddled the $12,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate to his first win for owner Rosalio Espinosa.
Julien R. Stevens III bred the brown colt from a half-sister to Ruidoso Futurity(G1) winner Jess Significant and La Primera Del Ano Derby(G2) winner So Significant. The second dam is champion Significant Speed by Duel Fuel.
The final qualifier Heza Fast Train B, the third for multiple stakes sire Freighttrain B, broke sharp in the trial 10 under jockey Jesse Levario then pulled away to win by one-length in :15.671 seconds.
Josue Ponce saddled the $12,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate from the Heza Fast Dash mare Fast Girl Friend for owner Juan Martinez. DGC LLC and Damian Trahan bred the gray gelding from the family of stakes winners PYC Place Your Bet and Man Hez Gorgeous.
For a complete list of Mardi Gras Futurity qualifiers, with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.
About Harrah's 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.