07/07/2018..DELTA DOWNS..VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its 2018 American Quarter Horse season on Saturday night with special program billed as Louisiana Showcase Night. The 12-race card featured eight stakes races and over $1.4 million in total purse money awarded to horses bred in Louisiana.
The richest race of the year took place in the nightcap, it was the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) for 2-year-olds who qualified during trails conducted on June 16. The race is named after the man who built Delta Downs back in 1973 and ran the track until 1999.
This year’s Lee Berwick Futurity was won by the fastest qualifier Eysa Jess Jumpn, who defeated Mr Coahuila by just a head in the 350-yard test for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds. Five Bar Perry finished in third, another ¾ of a length behind the top pair. Eysa Jess Jumpn, who is owned by Jose Estrada Quarter Horses, covered the distance over a fast track in 17.408 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 97.
Jockey David Alvarez rode Eysa Jess Jumpn to the victory on Saturday for trainer Josue Huitron. Alvarez picked up the mount after young jockey Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. was injured in the days following his trial win aboard the talented filly on June 16.
“David has helped us with the babies, so we felt he would be the best choice,” said Huitron.
The victory by Eysa Jumpn was her fourth in a row following a seventh-place finish in her debut at Louisiana Downs on February 24. She earned $350,000 for her Lee Berwick score and now boasts a career bankroll of $372,800.
Bred in Louisiana by D & S Racing, LLC, Eysa Jess Jumpn is a 2-year-old brown filly by Heza Fast Dash, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Jumpn. She was purchased by her connections at the 2017 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale for just $11,000.
Sent to the gate as the 9-5 wagering favorite of the fans, Eysa Jess Jumpn paid $5.80 to win, $3.60 to place and $3 to show. Mr Coahuila paid $19.80 to place and $12.20 to show. Five Bar Perry was worth $5.20 to show.
In other action on Louisiana Showcase Night, it was Featuring Fast Jess winning the $268,655 Delta Downs Derby with jockey Noe Castaneda in the saddle for trainer Eduardo Morales. The winner is owned by Fernando Ramos.
The $100,000 Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2) was annexed by Saul Dorado’s Lightemupwithcharm, who scored the win with jockey Everardo Rodriguez. It was the second stakes score of the season for the Martin Trejo trainee.
This year’s $50,000 Flashy Hemp stakes was won by M & M Stables, LLC’s La Mos Corona with jockey Floriberto Maldonado at the helm. The 4-year-old filly is trained by Orlando Orozco.
The horses who just missed qualifying for the Lee Berwick Futurity were featured in the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile and it was Jess Runawaytogether getting the victory with jockey Luis Vivanco riding for trainer Miguel Rodriguez. The impressive 2-year-old is owned by Jagger Horse Racing.
This year’s $50,000 Live Oak Stakes for the distance horses was won by 28-1 longshot Look to Monte Cristo, who used her inside post position to her advantage under jockey Ubaldo Luna to score a big win for trainer Claude A. Walters. Look to Monte Cristo is owned by Jonathan Goss. It was the first career stakes win for both the owner and trainer.
The shortest race on the closing night program was the $50,000 Flying Breed Stakes at 220 yards. The event produced a world record time last year with Magic Black Jack and this year it was won by Heasablackmagic, who tallied the win with jockey Jess Lee Levario in the saddle for trainer Telma Loya. Heasablackmagic is owned by Yiret Duran.
And finally, the $40,000 Louisiana Starter was won by Sweet Caliente Royal, ridden by the meets leading jockey John Hamilton. The winner is owned by Bulldog Racing and is trained by Benjamin Wilbanks.
The all-sources handle on Delta Downs program Saturday night set an all-time Quarter Horse record of $882,198. The old mark of $868,697 was set on July 15, 2007.
Delta Downs will now prepare for the 2018-19 Thoroughbred season, which runs from October 17 through March 9. First post time each Wednesday through Saturday night during the season will be at 5:25 pm Central Time. During the downtime, the track will feature full-card simulcasting in its OTB seven days a week.
For more information about the season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
