Preview Racing


AQHA Champion Distance Horse B And G Fast Dash Returns To Action In Magnolia Stakes Saturday
Reining AQHA Racing Distance Champion will return to action Saturday in the $25,000 Magnolia Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

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AQHA Champion Distance Horse B And G Fast Dash Returns To Action In Magnolia Stakes Saturday

BOSSIER CITY, LA--JANUARY 27, 2018--A busy week is shaping up at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, beginning on Friday's 14 schooling races and live cards set for Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

This week's stakes features distance specialists in the $25,000 Magnolia Stakes on Saturday (Feb. 3).

2017 AQHA Champion Distance Horse B and G Fast Dash will make his 2018 debut in the 870 yard stakes. Owned by Mo Racing, B and G Fast Dash was named champion distance horse earlier this month in the annual AQHA Champions Awards Ceremony in Oklahoma City. Bred in Louisiana by B & G Group Investments Inc., he is a son of Heza Fast Dash out of the Gold Regent (TB) mare Rita Regent.

B And G Fast Dash made his debut in trials for the 2014 Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs. He made 15 starts over the next two years, winning just three races. Following his seventh-place finish in the 2016 Louisiana Purchase Stakes, jockey Donald Watson encouraged trainer Kenny Roberts to try him around the hook. The veteran rider was spot on in his recommendation as B and G Fast Dash won an 870-yard allowance by over four lengths and captured five stakes over the next 18 months. Last August, he defended his title in the Faubourg St. John Stakes at Fair Grounds, setting a new 870-yard track record of :44.966 seconds.

Owner Oscar Rhone agreed to sell half-interest of his stakes performer to fellow Texan, Mary Lynne Thompson, and Mo Racing was formed last summer.

"Mary Lynne loves her horses and told me she really wanted a hook horse," said Rhone.

"It's been an amazing ride with this horse," added Rohne. "We love to watch him run and were thrilled when he set the new track record at Fair Grounds. I thought we had a shot at champion distance horse, so to top off the year with this award is really special!"

He comes into the Magnolia Stakes off an unusual off-the-board finish in the $20,000 IP 870 Stakes on December 16 at Evangeline Downs. Roberts reports that his charge is doing well.

"We got him scoped after that race, as he was having trouble breathing," said Roberts. "He's doing much better. He had a light (220 yard) on January 19 and Donald said he felt good and wanted to go further."

He will face five rivals, including Marathon Stakes winner, Jw Who Dat. Owned by Renato Contreras and trained by his son, Javier, the 6-year-old son of Agouti out of the Heza Fast Man mare Ew Comment made his 870 yard debut in the Marathon and won it from the far outside post under jockey Antonio Alberto.

"The outside post never worried us as he had never gone 870-yards," added Contreras. "We expected him to go to the lead and Antonio gave him a great ride."

Im Mighty Fast, owned by Triple M Racing Stables, LLC, was the post-time favorite, but broke poorly and rallied for third under Randy Edison. He returns on Saturday as a coupled entry with Struttinmyjewelsoff.

The Magnolia Stakes will run as the fourth race on Saturday. Here is the field, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. B and G Fast Dash (Donald Watson), 6-5
  2. Jw Who Dat (Antonio Alberto, 7-2
  3. Streakin Holland (Ricardo Hernandez, Jr.), 12-1
  4. Im Mighty Fast (Randy Edison), 9-5
  5. Struttinmviejewelsoff. (Juan Marquez), 9-5
  6. Streak of Music (Donell Blake), 6-1

Im Mighty Fast and Struttinmyjewelsoff will run as a coupled entry.

Schooling Races Set for Friday

Louisiana Downs will run 14 schooling races on Friday, February 2, beginning at 11:00 am for Louisiana-breds nominated to the $250,000 Guaranteed Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2).

Each of the heats will be contested at 220 yards and will give both horses and their trainers some valuable insights. Top Louisiana horseman, Kenneth Roberts,Sr., who was honored with his first Blane Schvaneveldt Champion Trainer by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) earlier this month, gave his insight on the races.

"It's not about winning," said Roberts. "Schooling races are all about learning. They give us valuable information on what we have to work on, so that the horses do better the next time."

Horsemen and women can CLICK HERE or log on to the Louisianan Downs website and click the "Horsemen" tab to watch live-streaming of the schooling races.

A complete list of the results and race times will be posted on StallioneSearch and LQHBA.

Louisiana Downs Trainer, Jockey and Owner Standings

Through January 31, Vann Haywood tops his fellow conditioners with nine wins. Last year's leading trainer, Orlando Orozco is second with eight wins and Carlos Saldivar, Javier Noel Contreras and Kenny Roberts are tied with seven victories each.

There is no doubt that there will be a tough battle as well for the jockey title! Damian Martinez leads his fellow riders with 11 wins. Antonio Alberto, David Alvarez and Everardo Rodriguez have each won ten races and Donald Watson follows closely with eight wins.

Manuel Alvarez tops the leaderboard in the owner standings with five wins. Joe M. Davis is second with four victories and Kris Locklear, Joel Huitron, Jose O. Baron, Joseph Landreneau, Two The Max Investments LLC, and Claude A. Walters are tied with three wins so far in the 2018 Quarter Horse meet.

Louisiana Downs Dates and Post Times

The 2018 Quarter Horse racing season at Harrah's Louisiana Downs got underway on Saturday, January 6. 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 17. Live racing will take place Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a 1:00 p.m. (Central) post time and will continue through March 21.

To see a complete list of the stakes schedule, including trial dates, CLICK HERE.

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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.

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