07/03/2020..VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs began an exciting weekend of American Quarter Horse racing on Friday night by hosting three rich stakes races. The featured event on the night was the $329,410 Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2). The undercard included the $98,150 Old South Derby and the $50,000 Vinton Stakes.
The Lassie Futurity was won by Patrick Richardson’s Sheza Freighttrain T under jockey Rolando Pina. The Eric Long trainee defeated One Sweet Filly by a head with race favorite and fastest qualifier Mr Runaway Presence wining up third, another ¾ of a length behind the top pair. Sheza Freighttrain T covered 330 yards in the Lassie in a time of 16.631 while racing on a sloppy track. That time equaled a speed index of 94.
A TRIO OF EXCITING STAKES RACES KICKED OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND
Sheza Freighttrain T came into the Lassie as the seventh fastest qualifier but was able to notch her third win from four career starts. She also made it to the final of the $315,000 Mardi Gras Futurity in March where she suffered her only defeat finishing a close second to El Camino Cl, who will be one of the favorites in Saturday night’s $357,981 Laddie Futurity.
Sheza Freighttrain T earned $164,705 for her Lassie win and now boasts an overall bankroll of $227,884.
Bred in Louisiana by Rusty J. Trahan, Sheza Freighttrain T is a 2-year-old filly by Freighttrain B, out of the Carters Cartel mare Clonin Around. She was purchased at the 2019 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Yearling Sale for $50,000.
Sent to the gate at odds of 5-2, Sheza Freighttrain T paid $7 to win, $4.20 to place and $3 to show. One Sweet Filly paid $13.20 to place and $5.40 to show. Ms Runaway Presence was worth $2.20 to show.
This year’s Old South Derby for 3-year-olds competing at 350 yards was taken by Mr Tereso with jockey Luis Vivanco in the saddle for trainer Fernando Lopez and owner Jose U. Oviedo. Mr Tereso won a tight finish with Hit Or Miss Kiss and Love the Way You Fly running second and third respectively. The running time was 17.462, which was good enough for a speed index of 94.
Mr Tereso has won seven of 10 career starts and his bankroll now stands at $196,976.
Bred in Texas by Jose V. Oviedo, Mr Tereso is a 3-year-old bay gelding by Man Who Wouldbe King, out of the Behold a Corona mare My Cold Corona.
And finally, this year’s $50,000 Vinton Stakes for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds going 400 yards was won by Jason Richards and Michael J. LeBlanc’s Lifeinthefastlanes under jockey David Alvarez. Lifeinthefastlanes is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., who also saddled the third-place finisher Tdz Jet Black Down. Splitting Robert’s horses was longshot Swamp Eagle, who finished second.
Lifeinthefastlanes covered the distance of the Vinton in 19.301 seconds. That time equaled a staggering speed index of 104.
Lifeinthefastlanes is a brown filly by Jess Louisiana Blue, out of the Panther Mountain mare Pantherinthefastlane. She was purchased for $41,000 at the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale. She has now won four of six career starts and earned a total of $118,393.
Delta Downs will close out its fourth week of American Quarter Horse racing on Saturday night with a 10-race program that begins at 6:15 pm CT. Saturday’s highlight races include the $357,981 Laddie Futurity (RG2), the $151,255 Old South Futurity and the $25,000 Develop a Plan Stakes (G2).
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.
