Quarter Horse meet begins

Louisiana Downs will begin a Quarter Horse meet Saturday with the $25,000 Harrah's Dash and trial races for the Grade 2, $150,000-added Harrah's Derby. The 40-date meet will run through March 18.

Angelas Toast is the defending champ in the Harrah's Dash, and as a winner of 16 races and $551,286 is the class of the field. His chief threat in the 250-yard race could be First Streakin Lee, who drew gate 10 and who won the 220-yard Evangeline Downs Dash in his last start.

There will be four trials Saturday for the Harrah's Derby, and the starters include Grade 2 Kansas Jackpot Futurity winner Dmnv Mountable. The finale is set for Feb.o2. The 400-yard derby is the second-richest stakes of the meet, behind the Grade 2, $200,000-added Harrah's Futurity on closing day. The futurity will be run on a Tuesday, as will another significant stakes, the $100,000 Mardi Gras Futurity on Feb. 26.

Among the trainers represented with entries on the 10-race opening-day card are Kenneth Roberts, Heath Taylor, and Janet VanBebber. Riders with calls on the program include G.R. Carter Jr. and Gilbert Ortiz.