San Lorenzo Wins Louisiana's Richest Horse Race, Lee Berwick Futurity As Delta Closes 2020 QH Season

VINTON, LA—AUGUST 22, 2020—Delta Downs closed out its 2020 American Quarter Horse season on Saturday night with a 10-race program that included eight stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses.

The evening was billed as "Louisiana Showcase Night" and it included the richest race ever contested in the state of Louisiana regardless of breed, the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1).

San Lorenzo, a $68,000 repurchase at the 2019 LQHBA Yearling Sale, walked away with more than half-a-million dollars when won the Lee Berwick Futurity.

Owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. purchased the son of champion Louisiana sire Coronas Leaving You privately from breeders Jim and Natalie Montgomery.

Out of the Mr Eye Opener mare In The Open, San Lorenzo is a full brother to AQHA Racing Champion Aged Stallion Open Me A Corona, who won the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs in 2012. In The Open is probably the only Quarter Horse mare to produce two foals to win $1-million dollar races.

Jockey David Alvarez, who had just ridden the $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3) winner Lifeinthefastlanes in the previous race (see related story) tied for the Delta Downs 2020 Leading Jockey title with his win in the Lee Berwick.

San Lorenzo broke alertly from post position seven but was bumped early by the horse to his inside, Neutral B.

That contact might have thrown off an ordinary horse but not the eventual winner, as he shook it off quickly and began to run down the early leaders before reporting home a half-length in front of longshot Tf Runaway Dashin, who rallied for second.

Carters Yachtz was involved early but settled for third, another ¾ of a length behind the top pair.

"He didn't stand in the gate very well, " jockey Alverez said after the win. "But after 200 yards he was off!"

San Lorenzo, who is trained by Jesus Marquez, covered 350 yards of the Lee Berwick over a fast track in a time of :17.331 seconds. That clocking earned him a speed index of 97.

"He is a little bit rowdy in the stable, but once he feels the saddle, he knows what to do," Marqeuez said of the richest Quarter Horse racing in 2020.

Owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. was very thankful about the win when he spoke to Martha Claussen on the Delta Downs simulcast program. "He did excellent. It's just a blessing to get to these finals. One of the hardest things you can do, but to win a million-dollar futurity is amazing."

"Breeders Jim and Natalie Montgomery are good people; a lot of credit goes to their Blue Hen mare. Everyone knows Open Me A Corona—the same cross did it again with San Lorenzo. He's paid into the LQHBA Sale Futurity; well let him tell us," he added.

Marquez not only qualified for the Lee Berwick with San Lorenzo, he also made it to the race with San Lorenzo Flash, who eventually finished seventh in the eight-horse field.

San Lorenzo has now won three of four career races. He began his career with a maiden breaking win in the trials for the Laddie Futurity at the beginning of the meet before finishing second in the final. He then won his trial for the Lee Berwick on August 1, posting the fastest time of the night and the second fastest overall time for the final.

For the first time in history, Delta Down split the Lee Berwick trials into two programs with the five fast qualifiers each night making it to the rich final.

The winner’s prize in the Lee Berwick Futurity was $512,891 and that boosted San Lorenzo’s overall bankroll to $547,570.

Tf Runaway Dashin, a $30,000 repurchases at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, earned $174,382 for this second-place effort. Alonso Neri trains the son of leading Louisiana sire Sir Runaway Dash for Delta Downs 2020 Leading Owner Raedele Phipps.

Bred by Tate Farms, Tf Runaway Dashin is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Dashadee. He has earned $181,582 in three starts.

Carters Yachtz, a $30,000 purchase at the 2019 LQHBA Yearling Sale, earned $102,578 for owner Antonio Delgado, Jr. Martin Trejo conditions the Carters Cartel gelding out of Yacht Sea by Mr Jess Perry. Russell Mowad is the breeder and Everardo Rodriguez had the riding call.

Sent to the gate as the betting favorite at odds of 3-2, San Lorenzo paid $5 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Tf Runaway Dashin was worth $28.40 to place and $6.60 to show. Carters Yachtz returned $2.80 to show.

Runaway Fast Dash, Shortstop Express, Neutral B, San Lorenzo Flash and El Camino Cl completed the field.

The Lee Berwick featured a field of eight horses after there were two scratches announced before the program began, one of which was the fastest qualifier for the event, Ought to Go Tee and the other was Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) third-place finisher Denalia Sweet Jess.

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For more information about the season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.

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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.