Preview Racing

Home > Preview Racing>Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Dominate Weekend Action at Louisiana Downs

Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Dominate Weekend Action at Louisiana Downs
Mardi Gras schooling race winner Sylvi Can Too will race in Saturday's third heat.

© Ann Switalski Photography
Mardi Gras Futurity Trials Dominate Weekend Action at Louisiana Downs

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 5, 2024–This weekend's live racing action at Louisiana Downs will be dominated by Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) trials for state-bred 2-year-olds.

First post time for Saturday and Sunday is set for 1:05 p.m. (Central). Eighteen 300-yard heats -- nine each day -- will be run. The five fastest qualifier from each day's trials will race in the $300,000-est. Mardi Gras Futurity final on March 30.

Saturday's nine trials are headed by Sylvi Can Too, a daughter of the Favorite Cartel stallion Tarzanito trained by Hector J. Sanchez for owner Archie T. McKinnon. Ridden by Juan Garcia Jr., the filly on February 10 won a 220-yard training race by a nose in :12.465, a clocking accomplished on a sloppy track.

Sylvi Can Too was a $10,000 purchase from breeders Kayan Broussard and Quaid Broussard at last year's Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. The filly drew post 3 and will be ridden by Juan Garcia Jr. in Saturday's third heat.

The two fastest schooling-race winners, Ainthetheone and Paint Me Onis, drew into Sunday's trials. A brown son of One Dashing Eagle trained by Roy Roberts for owners Donald Hall and Quency E. Grant, Ainthetheone recorded the fastest winning time from the nine training races contested, as the gelding went 220 yards in :12.235 on a sloppy surface.

Ainthetheone drew post 5 and will be ridden by Arnulfo Gutierrez in Sunday's sixth trial.

Paint Me Onis races for Harry O. Stratton from the barn of trainer Joseph Manucy. A son of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon stallion Paint Me Perry, the sorrel colt won his schooling race in :12.315 on a sloppy track.

Paint Me Onis drew post 5 and will be ridden by Saul R. Hernandez in Sunday's third heat.

The Mardi Gras Futurity trials, and all Louisiana Downs races, can be seen on the track's website.