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Mardi Gras Futurity Draws 128 Louisiana-Bred Juveniles
Triple C Racing Stables LLC's Jrs Natural Runaway is one of 128 Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds entered in Saturday’s Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) trials at Louisiana Downs.

© Ann Switalski / Lou Hodges Photography
Mardi Gras Futurity Draws 128 Louisiana-Bred Juveniles

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA—FEBRUARY 22, 2017—Jrs Natural Runaway, an impressive training race winner on February 3, is one of 128 Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds entered in Saturday’s Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) trials at Louisiana Downs.

A gray son of Sir Runaway Dash trained by Jesus Garrido for Ricardo Castillo’s Triple C Racing Stables LLC, Jrs Natural Runaway scored a 1 3/4-length victory in a 220-yard schooling race, as the colt stopped the timer in :12.173, the fastest winning time from the 14 training races. Jrs Natural Runaway was a $7,200 purchase at last year’s Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale.

Jrs Natural Runaway drew post 3 and will be ridden by Randy Edison in the first of 14 300-yard Mardi Gras Futurity trials.

Other fast training race winners entered in Saturday’s trials include Cruz E. Nava’s Shesa Diamond Diva, a $9,000 buy at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, and Jose Martin Pargas’ Dashing Red Lexus, a $10,000 purchase at the sale.

Shesa Diamond Diva is a gray daughter of Struttin To Beduino trained by Jose Sanchez. The filly won her training race by two lengths in :12.185, the second-fastest winning time of the day. The filly drew post 7 and will be ridden by Eddie Sanchez in the fifth heat.

Dashing Red Lexus, a colt by Heza Fast Dash, will be ridden by Everardo Rodriguez from post 5 in the seventh trial. Trained by Carlos Saldivar, Dashing Red Lexus won his schooling race by a half of a length in :12.330.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the March 18, $300,000-est. Mardi Gras Futurity final.

All Louisiana Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.