Delta Downs Wrap Up Season Saturday With Record Breaking Lee Berwick Futurity on Showcase Night

Saturday's Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) will mark the richest quarter horse race in Delta Downs history.

© Coady Photography

The 10-race card will featured the richest race in track history for the Quarter Horse breed dating back to 1973 when the Vinton, Louisiana venue first opened its doors. First post time for the exciting night of racing is set for 6:15 pm.

A total of 15 qualifying trials for the $690,295 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) were held on June 18 with Harlow Stables LLC’s Louisiana Jewels coming away with the fastest clocking at 350 yards, 17.733 seconds. The Michael Taylor trainee won the $298,000 Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2) on May 20 and will now try to capture the biggest prize of the season.

Other notable starters in Saturday’s season finale include Rdd Lajollanfastdash, who took the $273,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) back in March and comes into Saturday’s showdown as the second fastest qualifier; Tellem Im Pumped, who is also condition by 2015 Delta Downs leading trainer Taylor; and First Prize Bourbon, who enters the race as the fifth fastest qualifier for trainer Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr, who is trying to win his seventh leading trainer title at Delta Downs since 2002.

Louisiana Showcase Night will include eight stakes races in all and offer total purse money of $1,326,725. All 10 races on the program are for horses bred in Louisiana. The Lee Berwick Futurity will anchor the card and go as the nightcap (see related story).

The second richest race on Saturday will be the $244,430 Delta Downs Derby (RG2) for 3-year-olds who qualified back on June 17. The fastest qualifier for the 400-yard race was Jessa Louisiana Zoom, who won last year’s Louisiana Lassie Futurity as well as the Lee Berwick Futurity. The Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr. trainee is looking to add to her lofty bankroll of just over $533,000.

Delta Downs will honor the leading horsemen for the 2016 season between races on Saturday night in the winner’s circle. The track will also welcome back Wrangler Racing Ace Martha Claussen, who will co-host the simulcast show with track announcer Don Stevens, provide racing analysis and selections, and conduct post-race interviews with the winning connections.

The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association will be on hand for the closing night festivities at Delta Downs and to support the state’s educational system they will conduct a drawing for two (2) $1,000 college scholarships. Interested fans can enter the drawing at the LQHBA table set up near the OTB between 5 pm and the second race on the card. All entrants must be enrolled and in good standing at a Louisiana College or University.

For more information about the upcoming 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.