Mc Blue Cartel (#9) rallies late under jockey Jorge Garcia to win the Grade 2 $431,400 Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs on March 28, remaining undefeated in two career starts.

© Ann Switalski Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

BOSSIER, LA–MARCH 28, 2026– Mc Blue Cartel remained undefeated in two starts with a late-running victory in the $431,400 Mardi Gras Futurity (G2) on March 28 at Louisiana Downs, covering 300 yards in :15.363 seconds.

Ridden by Jorge Garcia, the filly broke midpack, advanced late, and got up in the final strides to win by a neck over Conair Cartel, while Sharpest Image finished third. The winner posted a 101 speed index over a fast track.

A $10,000 repurchase from the LQHBA Yearling Sale, Mc Blue Cartel was bred by Bottoms Up Racing, owned by Jaime Cardenas, and trained by Josue Ponce. She is sired by champion Carters Cartel, whose progeny have earned more than $16.8 million, and is out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare MC Bluecorona, making her the mare’s first foal.

The female family traces to AQHA Dam of Distinction Final Prize Dash ($77,465), producer of Grade 1 winners First Prize Leesa ($488,385), First Carolina ($415,047), First Prize Robin ($295,147), and Fast First Prize ($244,929). The pedigree also includes champion Dark NME ($1,739,485).

The filly earned $194,130 for the win, boosting her record to 2-2-0-0 with earnings of $198,330.

Mc Blue Cartel entered the final as the fastest qualifier, having won her trial by 3-lengths in :15.192 seconds on March 7.

“I felt like I was confident with the horse and just let her run by herself,” said winning jockey Jorge Garcia. “Thank God for all these opportunities and my family and the team.”

Runner-up Conair Cartel set the early pace before being caught late, finishing a neck behind the winner in :15.413 seconds. The colt is owned by Luis Armando Castellanos, trained by Santiago Villaseca, and was ridden by Victor Urieta Jr.

Bred by Dennis Mills Partners LLC, he is sired by graded stakes sire Five Bar Cartel, whose progeny have earned more than $12.5 million, led by Grade 1 winner Shakers No Secret ($796,494). He qualified to the final with the fifth-fastest time of :15.514 seconds.

Sharpest Image closed well to finish third, stopping the clock in :15.506 seconds. The $16,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate is owned by Vicente Arreola, trained by Victor Oviedo, and was ridden by H. Hernandez.

Bred by Robicheaux Ranch, the colt is sired by leading first-crop sire Gold Heart Eagle V and is out of the Game Patriot mare Non Stop Patriot ($50,050), a stakes placed runner. His second dam is a half-sister to 3-time champion and Broodmare of the Year Apollitical Time ($904,242), dam of World Champion Apollitical Jess ($1,399,831). He qualified with a time of :15.568 seconds.

Mucho Man Shortstop finished fourth, followed by KJ Meduzza, Jess Louisiana Bee, Awesome Eagle V, and Purple N Gold Blood. MDA Five Bar Rocket was scratched.

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