Mardi Gras Futurity Preview

Ten state-bred 2-year-olds, topped by fastest overall qualifier and morning-line favorite Eyesa Just Pretty, are entered back in Saturday's 350-yard, $365,080 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2), the richest race of the 2023 Louisiana Downs winter Quarter Horse meet.

A daughter of champion Carters Cartel trained by Janessa Muniz for owner Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC, Eyesa Just Pretty won the second of 12 Mardi Gras Futurity trials on March 3, the first of two days of trials. Blackmon Quarter Horses purchased the bay filly for $13,000 at last year's Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale.

Eyesa Just Pretty drew post 2 and will be ridden by Eric Reyes.

"I have a nice, solid team, and we are off to a great start this year," said Muniz. "I have faith in Eric, who started as a groom and then became an exercise rider. He knows our horses and works hard.

"And our filly has handled everything so well this far," the trainer added. "All we can ask for now is a good start."

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Wild Topshelf Hero (Arnulfo Gutierrez), 15-1
Eyesa Just Pretty (Eric Reyes), 5-2
Apollitical Force (Arturo Alvarez), 12-1
Jrs Majestic Pop Pop (Eleazar Hernandez), 4-1
Hijack A Train (Nestor Duran), 8-1
Mp Sheza Yes (Claudio Aguilar), 10-1
San Lorenzo Blood (Rolando Cabrera), 7-2
Heylemmecallyouback (Ali Rivera), 12-1
One Sweet Sugar (Jasiel Aquino), 15-1
Hoztile Takeover (Ubaldo Luna), 6-1

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