BOSSIER CITY, LA—FEBRUARY 22, 2020—Harrah's Louisiana Downs hosted fourteen trials to the $315,116 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) on Saturday afternoon. The 2020 purse is the richest in the race's 32-year-history!

Delfino Lozano, IV's Louisiana homebred El Camino Cl had no difficulty with his rail post position as he won his trial in :15.561 under Eddie Sanchez. Sired by leading sire Heza Fast Dash out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Eying Miss Perry, the sorrel colt was a schooling race winner on January 31 and drew off as the favorite in the ninth trial, earning a speed index of 92. The impressive juvenile is trained by Jose Sanchez, III.

"He ran a perfect race," stated her trainer. "I was worried about him drawing the rail, but he handled it like an experienced veteran! Once he got going, he ran faster and faster."

El Canio Cl is a half-brother to stakes-placed Zapta Chic and Eyeing Louisiana Game. The second dam is the Grade 2 winner Louisiana Eye Opener. This is family of champion Jess Louisiana Blue and champion sire The Louisiana Cartel.

J. and J. Stable will return to the final again this year with their homebred, One Sweet Filly, winner of the 11th trial in :15.597 seconds. The daughter of One Sweet Jess is trained by Jose Carrizales and was ridden to victory by Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. She did not run in schooling races, so her effort today was a very nice surprise Carrizales. "The owners bred her and never put her in a sale," he said. "We felt she was a nice filly but had no idea what to expect. She broke well and got away from the gates quickly, which the rest of the field did not. That helped because she ran a little green down the track, but our jockey did a good job with her." A $10,500 2016 Los Alamitos Equine Mixed Sale graduate, One Sweet Filly is out of the RG3 winning Buzz World mare Firebaugh Filly, dam of stakes winner Aries Man. One Sweet Filly is a full-sister to stakes-placed Fiery Fury and stakes-placed Race Lyn.

Boxcar, a son of by multiple grade 1 sire Freighttrain B, won the fifth trial of the day giving Jose and his younger brother, Eddie Sanchez, two qualifiers. The sorrel colt is owned by Mario and Julio Ramirez and won his trial in :15.667 seconds.

He was an impressive schooling race winner and followed it up with a solid maiden-breaking score by a margin of one length and a speed index of 89. He was bred by Chad Hart and Bobby D. Cox and was sold at the 2019 LQHBA Yearling Sale for $16,000.

Boxcar is the second foal from the stakes winning Woodbridge mare Wood Be Charming, a half-sister to RG2 winner Dashin Ace. The second dam is the Grade 3 winner Ace Crystal Charm by Shazoom.

"He was not facing forward when the gate opened," said Sanchez. "But he came running despite the start. We are very happy to have two headed to the final."

Trainer Wendy Garcia, who won the 2018 Mardi Gras Futurity with Guidry Pride II saddled the third fastest qualifier, Denalia Sweet Jess. Bred by Russell Mowad, the daughter of One Sweet Jess crossed the wire in :15.608 under rider Modesto Pina, who is Garcia's husband.

A $9,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate by One Sweet Jess, Denalia Sweet Jess is from the family of champions Strawberry Silk, winner of the All American Futurity and dam of champion and world champion sire Stoli.

Feelin Right won the seventh trial for 2018 LQHBA Champion owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr., who signed a ticket for $29,500 at last year's LQHBA Yearling Sale. The colt by multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot out of the Country Chicks mare Jesiacountrychick was bred by Wild N Fast Racing LLC.

With two posted works at Retama Park, Feelin Right won his trial in :15.660 seconds. Trainer Alberto Solis gave a leg up to rider Francisco Calderon, who guided the colt to a half-length score with a 90 speed index.

Feelin Rights's dam Jesiacountrychick is a stakes-placed half-sister to eight black-type including stakes winners Jet Black Rogue, Heza Fast Rogue, Jess A Rouge, Zoomin Jr and Game Gone Rouge.

Sheza Freightrain T, also by Freighttrain B, was a three-quarter length winner in trial 13 for owner Patrick Richardson and trainer Alfredo Gomez. The $50,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale Graduate is from the family of RG1 winner Hiclass La Jolla and Heritage Place Futurity(G2) winner Hiclass Girl. Jockey Rolando Pina rode the brown filly to the 5th fastest clocking of :15.656.

Jessa Louisiana Dash, a $25,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate owned by Eleazar Martinez, Sr., set the fastest time in the January 31 schooling races and won her trial today. Jockey Ubaldo Luna had the return call aboard the Heza Fast Dash filly, crossing the wire in :15.681, earning a speed index of 88.

Bred by Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch, Jessa Louisiana Dash is a sister to RG2 winner Heza Louisiana Dash. The second dam is the Grade 2 La Primera Del Ano Derby winner Louisiana Eye Opener by Mr Eye Opener.

For a complete list of Mardi Gras Futurity qualifiers, with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Sunday's card at Harrah's Louisiana Downs will feature six trials for the $123,790 Mardi Gras Derby. The final of the Mardi Gras Derby as well as the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) will take place on Saturday, March 14.

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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.