Page 40 - 30 March 2012

Mardi Gras Futurity-rG2
Cajun On sTar
by Tracy Gantz
Brothers Miguel and Jesse Rodriguez had
a friendly rivalry going in the March 10 Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2 at Louisiana Downs.
Of the four horses Miguel qualified as a trainer, he owns two and Jesse owns one. At the wire, Miguel’s Cajun On Star edged Jesse’s Victoria Sweet Angel after a furious battle.
“We were screaming for the horses,” said Miguel. “After they crossed the wire, we looked at each other and Jesse said, ‘Who won it?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’ ”
That Miguel won the final was only fitting because in the Feb. 21 trials, he started 10 2-year-olds to qualify four. “I won six trials, but only four qualified,” he said.
Cajun On Star didn’t win his trial, but the colt ran second to fastest-qualifier Ms Jingles and posted the second-fastest time, :15.593, for the 300 yards. The other horse Miguel owns, Cocky One, won his trial to be the third-fastest qualifier, while his fourth horse, RDD Fishers Favorite, is owned by Los Primitos and also won his trial.
As the first major futurity of the year in Louisiana, none of the qualifiers had started prior to the trials. Despite his inexperience, Cajun On Star ran like a pro in the final. With Raul Ramirez Jr. in the saddle, as he had been in the trial, Cajun On Star got a quick jump out of the gate, behind only Ms Jingles. When Downtown Corona bore in toward him a few jumps after the start, Cajun On Star never flinched, continuing straight for the wire.
Victoria Sweet Angel quickly moved into contention between Ms Jingles to her inside and Cajun On Star to her outside. The three horses raced to the finish together, with Cajun On Star winning by a nose in :15.534. Victoria Sweet Angel saved second by a head over Ms Jingles, the 6-5 favorite.
This year, Miguel has more young horses than in years past.
“Last year I won the LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity with Rapid Transit, and so people started sending me more 2-year-olds,” he said. “I used to train mostly older horses.”
The trainer is equally adept at training the youngsters, as Cajun On Star proved. Rodriguez used to have his horses with trainer Bobby Martinez, and he took out his own trainer’s license six years ago. He now has 40 stalls at Louisiana Downs, 15 of them housing 2-year-olds. Miguel owns nine of the horses he trains.
Rodriguez bought Cajun On Star privately as a yearling for $4,000.
“I have his half-brother, Quick N Easy Dasher,” he said. “He’s a 3-year-old, and he just won an allowance race.”
Chad Arnaud bred Cajun On Star and Quick N Easy Dasher in Louisiana from the winning mare Dashin
Chiquita. The mare has
four winners from five start-
ers. The $115,472 Cajun On
Star earned in the Mardi
Gras Futurity pushed him
past Quick N Easy Dasher
as her leading earner. He
could soon bank even
more because Miguel said
he has paid the colt into
the Louisiana-bred Laddie
Futurity-RG2 at Delta
Downs, which has trials
on May 5 with the final
scheduled for May 26.
Triple Lynn Farms LLC bred Victoria Sweet Angel (Jess Louisiana Blue-Kokopelli Hills) in
Louisiana. Ramirez piloted the filly in her trial victory for Jesse and Miguel, but selected Cajun On Star to ride in the final. Alfonso Lujan picked up the mount on Victoria Sweet Angel in the final.
J.R. Ramirez rode Ms Jingles (Bigtime Favorite-Some Quick Dasher) in her trial
and the final. Frank Cavazos trains the filly for owner Lauro Antonio Bazan.
Completing the field were Downtown Corona (Coronas Leaving You-Down Town Diva), Jets Quick Fortune (Jet Black Patriot-Miss Fortune Lady), RDD Fishers Favorite (Bigtime Favorite-La Jollan Queen), Rocs Miss Embrujo (Embrujo FG-Devil’s Due-TB), Cocky One (Corona Cocktail- Pie For One), Jess Blue Boy Lena (Jess Louisiana Blue-Call Me Lenas Girl), and Heza
Spunky Monkey (Heza Fast Dash-China Beach Babe).
Louisiana Downs $256,604 • 300 yards :15.534 • si 97
Okey Dokey Dale
Real Easy Okey
Real Blue Eyes
CAJUN ON STAR, ’10-c.
Dashin Chico
Dashin Chiquita
Realnix
38 SPEEDHORSE, March 30, 2012
Cajun On Star (#1A), with jockey Raul Ramirez Jr., held on for a nose victory.
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natalie Glyshaw/hodges Photo