Louisiana Showcase Night Caps Off 2020 American Quarter Horse Season At Delta Downs On Saturday

elta Downs will close out its 2020 American Quarter Horse season on Saturday night with the richest horse race in the history of Louisiana.

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The $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) will anchor Louisiana Showcase Night, which includes eight stakes races for horses bred in the Bayou State (see related story). The closing night card will have 10 races in all. First post time is set for 6:15 pm. (CDT).

This year’s Lee Berwick field is headed by Jose U. Oviedo’s Ought to Go Tee, who set the fastest qualifying time of :17.360 seconds for 350 yards on Friday, July 31. It was the first of two nights of trials for the big race which was split into multiple days for the first time due to the high number of entrants.

T he Fernando Lopez trainee will have Rolando Cabrera in the saddle when he breaks from post two in Saturday’s headliner.

The fastest qualifier from the second night of trials, and the second fastest qualifier overall, was Rogelio Marquez’s San Lorenzo, who stopped the clock in 17.365 seconds on Saturday, August 1. The Jesus Marquez trainee is a full brother to Open Me a Corona, who retired with $929,150 in career earnings. San Lorenzo will break from post nine in the season finale with jockey David Alvarez in the saddle.

The second richest race on the Louisiana Showcase Night program is the $256,305 Delta Downs Derby (RG3). The fastest qualifier for the event is Jason Richards & Michael J. LeBlanc’s Lifeinthefastlanes, who has won all three of her starts this season including a score in the Vinton Stakes on July 3 and her trial for the Derby just three weeks ago. Lifeinthefastlanes is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and will be ridden by David Alvarez when she breaks from post two in the ninth race on the program.

The older horses will get a chance to run in the $75,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2), carded as the eighth event on the program. The top earner in the field of 10 is Larry J. Boudreaux’s colt Mpshinning, who made most of his $746,045 by winning the Louisiana Million at Evangeline Downs as a 2-year-old in 2018. But he’ll have to deal with plenty of competition from horses like Gunsmoke B, Barjaxs and Lightemupwithcharm.

Listed below are the eight stakes races on the Louisiana Showcase Night program with race #, Stake, Sex, Age, Distance and Purse:

• #3 — Live Oak • Open • 3&up • 870 yards, $50,000
• #4 — Louisiana Starter • Open • 3&up • 350 yards, $40,000
• #5 — Flashy Hemp • F&M • 3&up • 330 yards, $50,000
• #6 — Flying Breed • Open • 3&up • 220 yards, $50,000
• #7 — Louisiana Juvenile • Open • 2yo • 350 yards, $75,000
• #8 — Louisiana Classic • Open • 3&up • 440 yards, $75,000
• #9 — Delta Downs Derby (RG3) • Open • 3yo, 400 yards, $256,305
• #10 — Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) • Open • 2yo, 350 yards, $1,025,782

In addition to great racing, Delta Downs will also honor the leading horsemen of the meet on Saturday night.

As the final week begins, Juan Garcia, Jr. owns a two-win lead in the jockey standings over David Alvarez, 33-31. The race for leading trainer has Trey Ellis on top with 26 wins to Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr.’ 23, and there’s a tie among owners with three days to go as Rayne Knight and Gene Cox have each enjoyed nine wins so far this season.

Delta Downs will also welcome a special guest to its simulcast program during Louisiana Showcase Night. Martha Claussen will join track announcer Don Stevens on the simulcast show as a co-host, racing analyst and interviewer following the major stakes races.

After Saturday, Delta Downs will be dark until the 2020-21 Thoroughbred season gets underway on October 6. The 84-day meeting will run through February 27 and features live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night beginning at 5:25 pm.(CST).

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.