Set as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the $243,625 Lassie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs Friday night is Lm Ms Apollitical.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA—MAY 21, 2025–A field of ten promising Louisiana-bred juvenile fillies will go to post Friday night in the $243,625 Lassie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs, headlined by the top three morning-line selections: Lm Ms Apollitical, Mamma Im Leaving You, and Ladies Cruz Higher.

The 330-yard contest, scheduled as the ninth race on the card with a 9:43 p.m. CT post time, offers a winner’s share of more than $121,000 and features several fillies who have already shown flashes of brilliance in their young careers.

Leading the field as the 3-1 morning line favorite is Lm Ms Apollitical, an impressive trial winner who will be making just her second career start. The daughter of Apollitical Blood, out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Ur Louisiana Blue, is owned and bred by Luis Rosales Martinez Jr. and trained by Francisco Javier Bernal.

In her lone start, Lm Ms Apollitical cruised to a one-length victory over a muddy surface— the fastest among all qualifiers. She will again be ridden by Ubaldo Luna from post position five.

Second choice at 7-2 is Mamma Im Leaving You, who brings valuable stakes experience into the final. The Coronas Leaving You filly, out of Mamma Jamma Jamma by Apollitical Jess, finished second in the $399,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) earlier this spring and was narrowly beaten in her Lassie trial after setting the pace.

Bred by Wiggins Acres LLC, she is owned by Jeantile M. Deville and trained by Jose R. Espinosa. Manuel Gutierrez has the call aboard the filly, who breaks from the outside post nine.

Also expected to contend is Ladies Cruz Higher, listed at 9-2 on the morning line. The daughter of Eagles Fly Higher, out of San Lorenzo Lady by Coronas Leaving You, is coming off a wire-to-wire trial victory in which she stopped the clock in :17.15.

Owned by J and Y Racing (Jose Guzman) and trained by John E. Norwood Jr., Ladies Cruz Higher will again be ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez, who has guided her to two wins from three starts. The filly was bred by Janelle L. Simon and will leave from post three.

The Lassie Futurity is restricted to accredited fillies bred in Louisiana in 2023 and features horses who qualified through trial races on May 2. Purses include contributions from the LQHBA, with payouts extended to all ten runners.

Among the others in the field are trial winners Marcy Train B and Headed North, as well as Ajs Prizedpossession, each entering off career-best efforts and offering upset potential in what promises to be a competitive renewal of the Lassie Futurity. CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers.

Ivory Heart Z Installed as Favorite in Lassie Stakes at Delta Downs

A field of nine Louisiana-bred 2-year-old fillies is set for Friday night’s running of the $40,000 Lassie Stakes (Race 8) at Delta Downs, with Ivory Heart Z tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Trained by Patrick L. Clemons for owner Dania Castellanos, Ivory Heart Z comes into the 330-yard event off a strong third-place finish in her trial on May 2, where she closed late to earn a 77 speed index. The filly broke her maiden in her debut at Louisiana Downs in March.

The daughter of Ivory James, out of Cr Tamarisk by Valiant Hero, was bred by Wiggins Acres LLC and purchased for $50,000 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Jorge J. Garcia has the call.

Other top contenders include Louisiana Spirits (7-2), trained by Jose Sanchez, and Shes Jess Sixy (9-2), a trial winner in March for trainer Jose R. Espinosa.

The Lassie Stakes is restricted to fillies that ran in the Lassie Futurity trials but did not qualify for the finals. Post time is set for 9:17 p.m. CDT. CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers.

*******************

Saturday’s race card at Delta Downs will continue the weekend’s stakes action with the running of the $308,335 Laddie Futurity (RG2), the companion event to the Lassie for Louisiana-bred two-year-old colts and geldings. Like the Lassie, the Laddie has drawn a deep and talented field of qualifiers from trials held earlier this month and is set to headline a strong Saturday program. First post time is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.