Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale Futurity highlights closing-day card

Fair Grounds in New Orleans had some fun last weekend when its Quarter Horses briefly turned the track over to ostriches and zebras for a few exhibition races. But things will get serious on Saturday. There will be five stakes worth nearly $500,000 on the track’s closing-day card, chief among them the Grade 1, $323,488 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale Futurity.

Fair Grounds will be wrapping up its ninth annual Quarter Horse meet. The 10-race program starts at 12:30 p.m. Central. The stakes will run consecutively, starting in the fifth race with the $35,943 consolation for the LQHBA Sale Futurity.

The field for the finale, which will be run over 350 yards, was determined after 12 trials were run on the opening-day card Aug. 17. One Hot Flame came away as the fastest qualifier, when he ripped through 350 yards in 17.58 seconds. He edged Tf Racee Runaway by a head, with that rival also qualifying for the LQHBA Sale Futurity.

One Hot Flame will break from the rail on Saturday as he attempts to win his third straight race. His streak began July 9 in the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes at Delta Downs. Manuel Gutierrez has been aboard for One Hot Flame’s last two starts, and has the mount again for Double H Racing Investments and trainer Adrian Huitron.

Other top contenders include Rdd Lajollanfastdash, who will be seeking to improve upon his 4-for-5 record that includes a 2 1/2-length win in the Mardi Gras Futurity in March at Louisiana Downs. He also dominated his trial for the LQHBA Sale Futurity, winning by a length in 17.68 seconds Aug. 17.

The most dominant trial winner was Tellem Im Pumped, who rolled by two lengths in 17.82 seconds. He will break from post 9. Joe Badilla Jr. has the mount for Ten for Ten and trainer Bruce Bell.

The other stakes on the card are the $30,000 French Quarter for fillies and mares; the Grade 3, $50,000 Mid-City; and the $50,000 Lakeview, a 250-yard dash for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana.

◗ Fair Grounds and Boyd Gaming, the parent company of Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs, are donating to flood relief efforts in Louisiana. Fair Grounds recently teamed with First American Bankcard to donate $27,847 to the United Way of Southeast Louisiana. Boyd Gaming will provide $50,000 to match cash donations made to the American Red Cross for relief efforts through Sept. 12.