Louisiana Million Futurity Qualifiers

At Evangeline Downs on Friday, the field was set for the $1-million Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1) for state-bred 2-year-olds, and Eleazar Martinez Sr.'s Jess Sea Louisiana is the fastest qualifier to the December 17 final.

Jess Sea Louisiana won the 12th of 14 trials by 1 1/2 lengths while covering 400 yards in :19.575. Ricardo Hernandez Jr. rode the gelded son of The Louisiana Cartel for trainer Raul Galvan.

Jess Sea Louisiana was bred by Grant Farms LLC, and he was purchased by Martinez for $30,000 at last year's Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. The gelding is out of Jess Sea, a winning 7-year-old daughter of 1994 champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry and a half sister to 2006 world champion Wave Carver and champion Ocean Runaway.

Campaigned in two states, including Texas, Jess Sea Louisiana has won three of nine races and has earned $96,966, and he was a finalist in three graded futurities, including the open June 4 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) at Sam Houston Race Park.

Second-fastest qualifier Tha Duke won the third heat by 1 3/4 lengths in :19.600. Arturo Alvarez rode the homebred son of the Coronas Leaving You stallion RC Me Leaving You for owners Miguel Romero Jr. and Ashton Elder, who also trains the sorrel gelding.

Tha Duke is out of Precious Perry Girl, an unplaced daughter of champion Jess Louisiana Blue, and he was coming off of a fifth-place finish in the open 400-yard Dash For Cash Futurity (G2) at Lone Star Park on October 1. The gelding has won four of six races and has banked $50,370.

Click here for a complete list of Louisiana Million Futurity qualifiers. Click here for a complete list of qualifiers to the December 17, $50,000 Louisiana Million Juvenile Stakes.