- by Ty Wyant / Photos by Natalie Glyshaw – Hodges Photography

JLS Party Wagon Lives Large In Harrah’s

BOSSIER CITY, LA - March 19, 2011 - JLS Party Wagon dominated the $249,370 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3) by a commanding three-quarters of a length on Saturday afternoon at Louisiana Downs to establish himself as a juvenile worth following as the futurities grow richer and longer.

Owned and bred by John Soileau’s JLS Speed Horse Ranch, the 2-1 favorite JLS Party Wagon raced the 300 yards in :15.379 for his second win from as many starts. His time was just off his fastest-qualifying time of :15.272. He won his trial by a neck over second-fastest qualifier Eyesa Royalty and third-fastest qualifier Sizzlin Cartel.

From the second crop of PYC Paint Your Wagon, JLS Party Wagon follows a year after Soileau’s JLS Mr Bigtime won the 2010 champion 2-year-old gelding and finished a very close second in the 2010 All American Futurity (G1).

JLS Party Wagon and JLS Mr Bigtime are each trained by Darrel Soileau.

Orlando Balidillez has been aboard JLS Party Wagon for each of his wins.

J.E. Jumonville Jr.’s Sizzlin Cartel, trained by Justin Dehart, improved from his third-place trial effort to finish second in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity.

Evelio Salazar’s Poker Face B finished just a head behind Sizzlin Cartel for third. The Teller Cartel son won his trial by three quarters of a length with the fourth-fastest time of :15.435 for trainer Javier Noel Contreras.

In the $20,000 Streakin La Jolla Stakes, a supporting feature for older horses, the top-two favorites fought for the win with 9-2 second-choice Champs Moon Dancer prevailing by a head over 5-2 favorite Charal Kid.

Francisco Tobias’ Champs Moon Dancer, a 7-year-old gelding by American Champ (tb), raced the 400 yards in :19.886 in his first start in eight months for trainer Willie Siemien Jr.
Last year he won two of his four starts with each of his victories coming in optional-claiming company.

Runner-up Charal Kid was the favorite while seeking class relief in the Steakin La Jolla. In his previous start he was second behind Strike It Quick’s world-record setting win in a $40,000 allowance race at Sunland Park. Two starts ago he was third in the Evangeline Downs Dash for trainer Erika Huitron.

Pete Scarmardo’s Rapidton was more than one length behind the one-two finishers for third. He has finished in the top-three runners in his latest eight starts.