Haddad's Hennessy XO TLC Fastest Qualifier In Grade 3 Harrah's Futurity Trials at Louisiana Downs
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
All nine races battled a 20 mph headwind throughout the day over a fast racing surface. The 10 fastest will return on Wednesday, March 18th to vie for a winner's purse valued at $127,444.50 going 350 yards.
The second trial of the afternoon featured the fastest qualifying time set by Hennessy Xo Tlc, owned and trained by Jorge Haddad. With Texas-based rider Francisco Calderon in the irons, the bay gelding blazed to the wire of his 300-yard trial in :15.675 seconds over a fast track.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
“We’re very pleased with his effort today,” said Haddad, who owned and trained multiple-stakes winner The Louisiana Cartel. “I was worried that we drew in the same race as Roma, who is a very nice filly, but to beat her by that margin was really good!”
Haddad, who purchased the colt for $16,500 at September Heritage Place Yearling Sale, hauled Hennessy Xo Tlc from his farm in Seguin, which was seven hours from Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.
“I don’t like schooling races,” added Haddad. “Working the horses and learning about them is more important to me that winning a schooling race. He improved very well from his first work at Retama to the February 15 work. That was amazing and we knew he would be ready for his trial.”
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
A $20,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate, Ima Jet Stream was bred by Sylvia Shaw and E.H. Pitman, Jr. from the Mr Jess Perry mare Ima Perry Girl.
Sanchez also saddled Magical Ivanna to the 5th fastest tie and Roma to the 7th fastest time. Both 2-year-olds are sired by first-crop sire Ivan James.
Magical Ivana ran second in that same heat, crossing the wire in :15.936 under Francisco Calderon. She is owned by Sanchez. Roma, owned by Omar Arriaga, crossed the wire in :15.899 with Eddie Sanchez in the saddle to set the seventh-fastest clocking of the afternoon.
Sanchez trained last year’s Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity champion Trump My Record and was pleased with the performance by his 2-year-olds today.
"It was a very good day with five wins in nine races," said Sanchez. "Eddie was pleased, and we feel each of these fillies are only going to get better."
J&J Stables LLC's homebred Mr Jj Pvc Eagle posted a nose win over Chittys Capi in the fifth trial to get the third fastest clocking of :15.810 seconds. Jose Carrizales trained the son of world champion and champion sire One Dashing Eagle from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Jb Mrs Pyc.
Trainer Jose Ponce saddled the 9th and 10th qualifiers, Super Fly B, a son of Ec Jet One, and Patron Tlc, a son of The Louisiana Cartel.
For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.
Father and Sire Get Two Finalists Each
Multiple stakes sire The Louisiana Cartel and his champion son Ec Jet One both sire two qualifiers each to the Harrah's Entertainment Futurity(G3) on Sunday.
The Louisiana Cartel got fastest qualifier Hennessy Xo Tlc (see above) and 10th fastest qualifier Patron Tlc.
All American Derby(G1) winner Ec Jet One, a first-crop sire, had the second fastest qualifier Ima Jet Stream (see above) and Super Fly B, 9th fastest qualifier.
LQHBA Scholarship Drawings Set for Saturday, March 14
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 $600,000 for students attending a higher education institution.
In the continuing tradition of combining recognition of youth on big race days, two students will be awarded $2,000 scholarships on Mardi Gras Futurity and Derby Day, March 14 at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. Registration begins at 11:00 am and students MUST BE PRESENT when the drawings take place after the fourth race of the afternoon card. For further information, visit LQHBA.com.
Road to Kentucky Handicapping Contest Continues This Saturday
Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is hosting an exciting on-track handicapping contest called the Road to Kentucky Handicapping Contest. It began on Saturday, January 18 with major stakes races, including key Kentucky Derby prep races featured each week through May 2. Fans can register at the contest table adjacent to the program stand with weekly prizes awarded and points accumulated toward the $1,000 grand prize. Louisiana Downs Dates and Post Times
The 2020 Quarter Horse racing season at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs continues through March 18. The 46-day meet includes 12 stakes highlighted by the first official championship for 2-year-olds, the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity on March 14. Live racing will take place Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a 1:00 p.m. (Central) post time.
Additional reporting by Martha Claussen
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.