07/08/17..DELTA DOWNS..VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs wrapped up its 2017 American Quarter Horse season on Saturday night with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night. The entire 12-race program was dedicated to horses bred in Louisiana with eight stakes races and over $1.4 million in total purse money up for grabs. The featured event of the night was the $705,495 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which marked the richest Quarter Horse race in the track’s 44-year history.
Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s Dashnunder Afullmoon won the Lee Berwick Futurity with jockey Eddie Sanchez in the saddle for his father, trainer Jose Sanchez. Dashnunder Afullmoon won all four of her starts this season including the $322,285 Lassie Futurity as well as trials for both the Lassie and Lee Berwick.
“She is a once in a lifetime horse”, said Marquez. “The pressure was on her tonight and she handled it perfectly.”
Dashnunder Afullmoon broke from the outside post position in a field of 10 on Saturday night and quickly engaged with rival You Drive I Fly. The pair dueled valiantly for most of the 350-yard event before Dashnunder Afullmoon pulled clear by a half-length at the finish line. Tf El Whiskey, also owned by Marquez, finished another length behind the top pair in third.
The running time for this year’s Lee Berwick Futurity was 17.481 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 95. The race was conducted over a fast track and into a 15-mile-per-hour headwind.
Dashnunder Afullmoon earned $353,747 for her Lee Berwick win and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $527,089.
Bred in Louisiana by D & S Racing LLC, Dashnunder Afullmoon was purchased by her connections at the 2016 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale for $44,500.
Sent to the post as the favorite at even money, Dashnunder Afullmoon returned $4 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. You Drive I Fly was worth $4.60 to place and $3 to show. Tf El Whiskey paid $6 to show.
In other stakes activity on Saturday night it was leading trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. who saddled the top three finishers in the $257,160 Delta Downs Derby (RG3) as longshot Jrs Coronas Shadow won the race while First Prize Bourban was second with No Politics Here winding up third. Jrs Coronas Shadow was ridden by jockey David Alvarez and he is owned by Gary W. Hartsack. In all Roberts won four race on the program.
The $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2) was won in dramatic fashion by Heza Louisiana Dash with jockey Gilbert Ortiz in the saddle for trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. The property of T M Ranch (Robert S. Holland) was undefeated on the season, having also won the Open Me a Corona and the Vals Fortune Stakes.
Eulalio Argote and Victor Alvarado’s Second Down Leaving took the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes for horses who just missed qualifying for the Lee Berwick Futurity. The 2-year-old colt by Coronas Leaving You was ridden to victory by Manuel Gutierrez who accepted a leg up by trainer Javier Noel Contreras.
Jet Black Rogue ran a tremendous race to win this year’s $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes under jockey John Hamilton. The Michael Taylor trainee broke a step slow but finished with a flourish to get past early leader Puncutality late. Jet Black Rogue, a 4-year-old filly, is owned by David Dunn.
The $50,000 Flying Breed Stakes was won by Magic Black Jack, who set a new track record of 11.466 seconds (118 speed index) for 220 yards while winning easily under jockey Everardo Rodriguez. The 4-year-old black gelding is owned by Ana Lilia Alvidrez and is trained by Martin Trejo.
This year’s $50,000 Live Oak Stakes looked a lot like last year’s edition as Mo Racing’s gelding B and G Fast Dash won the race for the second straight year with jockey Donald Watson in the saddle for leading trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr.
Bjs Magic Wings won the $40,000 Louisiana Starter Stakes with jockey Jimmy Guynes in the saddle. The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Lester Colomb, Jr. and is trained by Kenneth Weeks.
Delta Downs will now look forward to its 2017-18 Thoroughbred season which runs from October 18 through March 10.
For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.
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.
