News - Headlines March  29, 2024

Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr Wins Second Stakes Race Of Season In The Esplanade At Delta Downs


Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr., under jockey Ricardo Hernandez, was an easy winner in the $30,000 Esplanade Stakes for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–AUGUST 13, 2022–Delta Downs closed out another week of American Quarter Horse racing on Saturday with an eight-race program featuring the $30,000 Esplanade Stakes for 3-year-olds and up competing at 350 yards.

The event was won by J and J Stables’ Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr under jockey Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. The victory was the second stakes score of the season for the Jose Carrizales trainee, who also won the Open Me A Corona Stakes back on April 30.

Breaking from post position three in a field of eight, Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr came away very alertly before gaining a clear lead in mid-stretch. At the finish line he was on cruise control for Hernandez and completed the race a half-length to the good of runner-up Caliente Operator.

One Fast Perry put in a game effort to be third, another neck behind the top pair.

The winning connection of Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr accept the  Esplande Stakes trophy Saturday night at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography

Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr completed the distance over a fast track in a time of 17.605 seconds. The clocking earned him a speed index of 89.

Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr has now won six-of-21 career races and two-of-10 at Delta Downs. His tally on Saturday night earned him $18,000 as he raised his bankroll to $115,238.

Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr is a 4-year-old sorrel gelding by former leading sire Heza Fast Dash, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Forever Real.

Runner-up Caliente Operator races for owner Jose Antonio Del La Rosa and is trained by Santiago Riojas, Jr. Jockey J.R. Ramirez had the riding call aboard 5-year-old son of Corona Caliente from the Dashing Val mare A Dashing Operator.  Bred by Ocie Lee Charles, Jr., Caliente Operator earned $6,000 to bring his earnings total to $53,350.

Trainer Larry Keith saddled third-place finisher One Fast Perry for owner-breeder Eddie Harrison. Leonardo Rodriguez was up on the Fast Prize Jordan 5-year-old out of Dr Bell Perry by Toast To Dash. The $3,300 third-place payday increases One Fast Perry's earnings mark to $84,586.

Sent to the gate at odds of 6-5, Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr paid $4.60 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Caliente Operator was worth $4.40 to place and $3 to show. One Fast Perry returned $3.20 to show.

Completing the field were King Intriguing Blue, Lett It Happen, Quorumm, Jessa Fantasy and Cwfasttrack.

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Delta Downs will now conduct 15 more days of American Quarter Horse racing from July 28 through September 3. There will be live racing each Thursday through Saturday beginning at 6:15 pm, with the exception of August 4 through 6, due to the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale. The extra dates were transferred from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

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

 


Courtesy Ses