February Racing at Louisiana Downs

Tee Ray is the morning line choice in Saturday's Louisiana Downs Maiden Stake.

the first tests for 2-year-olds.

On Saturday, the Bossier City racetrack will present the final of the 350-yard, $47,242 Louisiana Downs Maiden Stakes. Jockey Damian Martinez qualified two for this final in trials run on January 21, but will ride fastest qualifier, Tee Ray for trainer Gary Shane Mason. The Tee Cos gelding will break from post position eight as the 5-2 favorite.

The second-fastest qualifier is Black Ice, a 4-year-old son of Game Patriot, who broke his maiden with his trial win. Trainer Martin Trejo will give rider J.R. Ramirez a leg up. Nanas Leaving You, one of three fillies in the field, is another contender. The daughter of Coronas Leaving You is trained by the meet’s current top conditioner, Orlando Orozco and will be ridden by Alfonso Lujan.  There could be a nice price in the exotics if Toast to Logan runs well under David Alvarez. The 3-year-old gelding was the ninth-fastest qualifier and was ridden by Martinez in trials. Alvarez, who finished 2016 as the top-ranked AQHA rider by wins, has picked up the mount.

Prior to Saturday, Louisiana Downs schooling races will be held on Friday, February 10 at 11 am. The six races will be offered to 2-year-olds eligible for the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity.  Further into the month, Louisiana Downs will run trials for the Mardi Gras Futurity. Those are set for Saturday, February 25 with the ten fastest qualifiers returning for the final on Saturday, March 18.

Post time is 1:00 p.m. (Central) Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The 2017 Quarter Horse meet at Louisiana Downs continues through March 22.