Jessa Louisiana Zoom, Special Coors Cartel get rematch in LQHBA Futurity

Jessa Louisiana Zoom will attempt to win her third major stakes this year Saturday night in the $1 million Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Futurity at Evangeline Downs. She is part of a 10-horse field that includes the fastest qualifier, Jet Black Rogue, and the streaking Special Coors Cartel.

The LQHBA Futurity is the richest race at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La. The 400-yard race is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana and will be showcased on a card that also includes the $267,171 LQHBA Breeders Derby and the $40,000 LQHBA Invitational Breeders Stakes.

Jessa Louisiana Zoom won the $273,972 LQHBA Lassie in May at Delta Downs and captured the track’s $634,530 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity in July. She has earned $474,553 for Jason Richards and Michael LeBlanc, and with a win Saturday, she would pick up a first-place check of $445,000.

Jessa Louisiana Zoom is seeking to get back into the win column after suffering the first loss of her five-race career in her trial for the LQHBA Futurity. She was second when racing in the slop for the first time Nov. 6. Jessa Louisiana Zoom was edged a head by Special Coors Cartel, who will be going for his fourth straight win Saturday.

Jessa Louisiana Zoom enters the LQHBA Futurity as the third-fastest qualifier, with a time of 20.01 seconds. Danny Lavergne has the mount from post 8 for trainer Frank Cavazos.

Jet Black Rogue won her Nov. 6 trial for the LQHBA Futurity in 19.92 seconds, the fastest qualifying time after 14 trials at Evangeline. She proved a length best while winning the fourth race of her six-race career. Joe Badilla Jr. has the mount for owner and trainer Michael Taylor.

Trainer Trey Ellis qualified four horses for the LQHBA Futurity. First Corona Dash was the fourth-fastest qualifier and will be joined by Gone Cartel (fifth), Toastin With Coronas (eighth), and Gonzo Compadre (ninth). Jockey John Hamilton qualified three of those runners and will be aboard the rail-drawn Gone Cartel on Saturday.

◗ Trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. has four starters in the LQHBA Breeders’ Derby, including Heza Louisiana Dash, who set the fastest qualifying time during trials. He won his 400-yard heat in 20.13 seconds. Others set to start for Roberts are Jes a Fast Dasher, Icanonlyimagine, and B and G Fast Dash. The trials were non-wagering events contested prior to the start of the Nov. 11 card after inclement weather forced the cancelation of the original date for trials (Nov. 7).

◗ The LQHBA will be giving out $2 wagering vouchers ontrack while supplies last, according to American Quarter Horse Association fan-education representative Martha Claussen.