Mardi Gras Futurity

Rogelio Marquez Jr.'s San Lorenzo Blood broke sharply from post 7 and rolled to a wire-to-wire victory in Louisiana Downs' richest American Quarter Horse race, Saturday's $365,080 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds.

Ridden by Rolando Cabrera for trainer Jesus M. Marquez and sent to post as the 3-1 second choice in the full field of 10, San Lorenzo Blood went 300 yards in :15.256, and his winning margin was a clear 1 1/2 lengths from 8-5 favorite and fastest qualifier Eyesa Just Pretty. The Apollitical Blood filly earned a 106 speed index while banking $164,286 from her first stakes score.

"She did great today, right on point," said Jesus Marquez of San Lorenzo Blood. "We're not big on schooling races, but she was training so well we knew she was ready."

San Lorenzo Blood was bred by Slash Z Quarter Horses, and she was the second-fastest overall qualifier from 24 Mardi Gras trials run March 3-4. The filly is out of Ms Valiant Perry, a 10-year-old daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Valiant Hero. She traces back to her third dam, Sassy Smith, a multiple graded stakes winning Corona Cartel mare.

Marquez purchased San Lorenzo Blood for $70,000 at last year's Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. The filly has won both of her outs, and her bankroll totals $167,886.

"She looked really good at the sale," said Rogelio Marquez. "Her pedigree was there, as well as her conformation. Joe Garza broke her for us, and everyone on our team has worked well to get her to this point."

Hijack A Train finished third and was followed by One Sweet Sugar, Jrs Majestic Pop Pop, Hoztile Takeover, Apollitical Force, Wild Topshelf Hero, Heylemmecallyouback, and Mp Sheza Yes.

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