News - Headlines March  28, 2024

Apollitical Bug Scores Fastest Time For $700,293 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) at Delta Downs


Apollitical Bug, under jockey Noe Castaneda, rolls to a 2-1/2 length win and the fastest qualifying time for the $700,293 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—JUNE 14, 2019—Delta Downs conducted a special 15-race program on Saturday night. Each race was a qualifier for this year’s $700,293 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which will be run on closing night of the season, Saturday, July 6.

The fastest qualifier for this year’s Lee Berwick came out of the fifth trail as Mardonio Flores, Jr.’s filly Apollitical Bug stopped the clock in a time of :17.339 seconds for 350 yards. The time equaled a speed index of 97 and it was accomplished over a fast track with jockey Noe Castaneda in the saddle.

The win by Apollitical Bug also served as a maiden breaker. She had failed to win either of her first two starts for Flores, who also bred and trains the daughter of first-crop sire Apollitical Blood, out of the Tinys First Corona mare Tinys First Bug. The black filly was a $10,000 repurchase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale last August.

Each trial on the expanded program Saturday carried a purse of $12,000. The winner’s share of $7,200 raised Apollitical Bug’s bankroll to $11,220. Should she win the final, she would snare a tidy sum of $350,146.

Runaway Second Down bounced off a troubled eighth-place effort in a May 18 allowance at Delta to break his maiden by three-quarters in the sixth trial under jockey Antonio Alberto. The son of multiple stakes sire Sir Runaway Dash stopped the clock in :17.503 seconds, a 93 speed index, to get the second fastest time.

Trainer Robi Meche conditions the gray gelding out of Second Down Perry by Mr Jess Perry, for owner s Eulalio Argote and Victor Alvarado. Grant Farms LLC bred the $80,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate.

Pilotoshinning ran his record to perfect 3-for-3 in the second trial to get the third fastest time of :17.508 seconds, a 92 speed index. Barbara Alcantara trains the Mr Piloto gelding for Rancho Herradura LLC. A $3,700 LQHBA Yearling graduate, the sorrel gelding is out of La Shinning Streak by First To Shine. Terry Alwell is the breeder.

First-crop sire Apollitical Blood got three qualifiers to the Lee Berwick final. Leading Louisiana sires Sir Runaway Dash and Mr Piloto had two each.

Listed below are the 10 qualifiers for this year’s Lee Berwick Futurity from the fastest time down. The final will take place on Louisiana Showcase Night, Saturday, July 6. For a complete list of the 10 qualifiers for this year’s Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The final will take place on Louisiana Showcase Night, Saturday, July 6.

The second 10 fastest from tonight's trials are preferred invites for the $50,000-Guaranteed Louisiana Juvenile that will also run back on July 6. For a list of those horses CLICK HERE.

Delta Downs will begin its 10th week of American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night with a 10-race program that begins at 6:15 pm CST.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more information about the new season visit the track's website at 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.


Courtesy Ses