Featuring Fast Jess Extends Win Streak With $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby Victory

VINTON, LA—JULY 7, 2017—Featuring Fast Jess battled to a three-quarter length win over Shesa Diamond Diva in the $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby Saturday night. Second Down Leaving finished a neck back in third.

Under jockey Noe Castaneda, Featuring Fast Jess completed the 400 yards in :19.514 seconds, a 99 speed index, to keep his 2018 Delta Downs record a perfect 3-for-3. The son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash kicked off the meet with a win in the Vinton Stakes on May 19th before winning his Delta Downs LA-Bred Derby trial and posting the second fastest qualifying time on June 15.

"I know this horse well in addition to riding in races," Castaneda said after the race. "I have spent a lot of time working him in the mornings. He's well-bred and learns quickly. It's the little things that have made a big difference," he added.

Trainer Eduardo Morales conditions the 3-year-old six-time winner who used tonight's $134,328 derby winners' purse to boost his bankroll to nearly $250,000. Fernando Ramos owns and races the sorrel gelding out of Featuringmissjess by Mr Jess Perry. Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch bred Featuring Fast Jess from a full sister to leading sire Feature Mr Jess.

A finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) last year, Featuring Fast Jess' only loss in 2018 was a second-place effort in the Mardi Gras Derby in March. He has compiled a (13) 6-2-0 overall record.

Morales said that Feature Fast Jess would be pointed to the Fair Grounds later this summer and the Louisiana Champions Day in December.

Runner-up Shesa Diamond Diva was also second in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1) last year. The daughter of Strutin To Beduino, from the Heza Fast Dash mare Sheza Fortune, entered the derby with the fastest qualifying time in the June 15 trials. Jose Sanchez II saddled the gray filly for owner Crown Horse Racing LLC. Bred by Paul Fontenot, Jr., Shesa Diamond Diva has compiled a (9) 4-4-0 record and the $45,671 runner-up derby check brings her earnings total to $323,892.

Second Down Leading, a stakes winning son of Coronas Leaving You, earned $26,866 for third. Robert Meche trains the bay gelding for owners Victor Alvarado and Eulalio Argote. Second Down Leaving won the last year's Louisiana Juvenile, was second in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) and Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile(RG2).

Ridden by jockey Manuel Gutierrez, Second Down Leaving kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Billy Montgomery Stakes at Louisiana Downs in January. He has earned $161,264. Grant Farms, LLC bred him from the Mr Jess Perry mare Second Down Perry.

Jrs Taylor Runaway, The Cazador, Heza Jess Cuervo, Fabulously Black, Ima Gone Reba, Lil Biscuit and Cant Catchacorona completed the field.

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.

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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.