Undefeated MC Blue Cartel, ridden by Jorge Javier Garcia, remains perfect while posting the fastest qualifying time of :16.654 to lead all fillies into the LQHBA Lassie Futurity (RG2) final at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–APRIL 30, 2026– Thirteen trial heats contested Thursday night at Delta Downs set the stage for the upcoming $302,335 LQHBA Lassie Futurity (RG2) and its companion Juvenile, as the fastest 10 qualifiers secured spots in the Futurity final while the next 10 fastest advanced to the Juvenile. Both finals are scheduled for May 22 at 350 yards and will feature Louisiana-bred two-year-old fillies.

Headlining the qualifiers is MC Blue Cartel, who delivered the fastest time of the night with a commanding :16.654 clocking and a 98 speed index. Ridden by Jorge Javier Garcia, the filly broke sharply and quickly asserted control before drawing off to win her trial by 2 1/4 lengths in dominant fashion.

Bred by Bottoms Up Racing, owned by Jaime Cardenas, and trained by Josue Ponce, MC Blue Cartel continues to stamp herself as one of the leading juveniles in the region.

A $10,000 repurchase from the LQHBA Yearling Sale, the filly is by champion sire 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.

She enters the Futurity final off a victory in the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and remains undefeated in her young career, further enhancing her status as the one to beat.

Her pedigree is anchored by 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 female family also includes champion Dark NME ($1,739,485), underscoring the depth of black type behind the fastest qualifier.

Second-fastest qualifier Mucho Man Shortstop stopped the clock in :16.968 seconds. A $9,500 repurchase and homebred for Ruse Ranch LLC, she is trained by Ricardo Romero and was ridden by Claudio Ponce Aguilar. She won the 11th race by 1 1/2-length in wire-to-wire fashion.

The daughter of leading sire KJ Mucho Macho Man is out of the stakes-placed Freighttrain B mare Shortstop Express. Her second dam, Allizoom ($113,016), was stakes placed, while third dam Lett Her Zoom ($309,167) was a champion. She enters the final off a fourth-place effort in the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and will look to improve in her third career start.

Ivory Toasted secured the third-fastest qualifying time with a :17.025 effort in her career debut, breaking alertly and holding gamely to win her trial.

Bred by Aymond Bales LLC and Manuel Henry, she is owned by Jimme Rodriguez, trained by Ricardo Romero, and ridden by Claudio Ponce Aguilar.

A $20,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, the filly is by champion sire Ivory James and out of the graded stakes-winning Toast To Dash mare Sante Mon Amie. She is a half-sister to stakes winner Toast To Blue ($74,673), with additional black type under third dam Check It To Em Miss ($48,214).

View full list of Lassie Futurity (RG2) qualifiers HERE.

Leading the qualifiers to the Juvenile is Fully Loaded, who heads the second tier of 10 fillies advancing to that event. A $65,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale purchase, she was bred by Robicheaux Ranch Inc. and is owned by Simmons Racing LLC, trained by Jose Lopez, and ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez.

Fully Loaded is by champion Apollitical Blood and out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare First Lady B. She is a full sister to graded stakes winner Xtra ($96,634), while her second dam is a full sister to champion Tiny First Effort ($445,393) and stakes winners Tiny First Down ($371,881) and Crash Thru Traffic ($140,595).

View full list of Lassie Juvenile qualifiers HERE.

With a blend of proven stakes performers, well-bred newcomers, and emerging talent, the stage is now set for a highly competitive night of finals on May 22 at Delta Downs, where Louisiana’s top two-year-old fillies will return in pursuit of Futurity glory and Juvenile honors.

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