Kj Meduzza Heads Deep Field in $561,054 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) Saturday at Delta Downs

A talented field of accredited Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds will headline Saturday night's stakes-packed program at Delta Downs when they meet in the $561,054 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1).

Carded as Race 10 with an approximate 10 p.m. (CDT) post time, the 350-yard restricted Grade 1 is worth $561,054, including $200,000 added, and is restricted to eligible 2024 state-bred foals that qualified for the LQHBA Sale Futurity.

Kj Meduzza, installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, brings the strongest bankroll into the final with earnings of $350,037 from seven starts. The sorrel gelding has won twice with four seconds and captured the $603,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs on July 11, defeating Rdd Reasons For B by a nose with Man For Cos another neck back in third.

In his August 8 LQHBA Sale Futurity trial, Kj Meduzza hopped at the start before battling Om Cold Blood to the wire, missing by a nose while clocking :17.452. The son of leading thrid-crop sire Kj Mucho Macho Man from the Ragazzo mare Meduzza is owned by J.A. Racing LLC, trained by Miguel Pizana and was bred by Ruse Ranch LLC. Victor M. Urieta Jr. gets the riding assignment Saturday.

The 7-2 second choice Man For Cos enters off one of the most impressive performances in the nine trials conducted August 8. The Ruse Ranch LLC homebred rallied to win his trial by a half-length over Apollitical Latino in :17.460, earning a 93 speed index.

Man For Cos has won four of six career starts and earned $91,230. Before finishing third in the Laddie Futurity (RG2), the son of Kj Mucho Macho Man won his Laddie trial by 2 1/4 lengths. He also won his Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) trial in his career debut and captured another trial at Delta in May. The gelding is owned and bred by Ruse Ranch LLC and is trained by Jose A. Garcia. Jorge J. Garcia will ride from post 7.

Rdd Reasons For B, the 4-1 third choice, has been remarkably consistent through five starts for owner Rogelio Marquez Jr. The Freighttrain B filly has three wins and two seconds while banking $176,057. She finished second by a nose to Kj Meduzza in the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) after winning their June 19 trial matchup, and earlier was runner-up in the $302,000 Lassie Futurity (RG2).

Rdd Reasons For B returned to the winner's circle in her August 8 trial, breaking sharply and drawing clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths in :17.571. Bred by Richard Dale Domingue, she is out of the FDD Dynasty mare Fdd Reasons and was a $18,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate. Ramiro Aboytes-Suarez trains, and Leonardo Rodriguez will ride from post 9.

Saturday's card also features six additional $50,000 stakes for accredited Louisiana-breds, beginning with the Treme Derby (Race 4) for 3-year-olds at 350 yards. The Mid City Stakes (Race 5) brings older horses together at 440 yards, while the LQHBA Sale Debutante Stakes (Race 6) is a 350-yard event for 2-year-old fillies who competed in the August 8 LQHBA Sale Futurity trials but did not qualify for the final.

The stakes action continues with the Audubon Stakes (Race 7), a 330-yard test for fillies and mares, 3 and older. The LQHBA Sale Juvenile Stakes (Race 8), also at 350 yards, is restricted to 2-year-old colts and geldings who raced in the Sale Futurity trials but failed to qualify for the $561,054 final. The Lakeview Dash Stakes (Race 9) serves as the final stakes event before the Futurity, matching Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds and older at a quick 250 yards.

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