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Vals Fortune Stakes, Firecracker Derby Trials Headline Friday Program at Delta


Salvador Marquez’s Bubba Mallard is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 350-yard, $50,000 Vals Fortune Stakes(RG2) Friday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA—JUNE 5, 2018—A full field of 10 Louisiana-bred runners has been entered in Friday’s 400-yard, $60,000 Vals Fortune Stakes (RG2) at Delta Downs.

Salvador Marquez’s Bubba Mallard, a 4-year-old Sir Runaway Dash gelding trained by Michael Taylor, drew post 2 and will be ridden by John Hamilton. Bubba Mallard will be stretching out in distance off of his one-length victory as the 5-2 favorite in the 350-yard, $50,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (R) at Delta Downs on May 5.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Strong Guns (Damian Martinez)
  2. Bubba Mallard (John Hamilton)
  3. Lightemupwithcharm (Everardo Rodriguez)
  4. Ldn Jessasaltydog (Antonio Alberto)
  5. Perrys Jumpn Beduino (Juan D. Marquez)
  6. Pop Rocket Jess (Ricardo Hernandez Jr.)
  7. BJs Magic Wings (Luciano Duenez)
  8. Heza Louisiana Dash (Noe Castaneda)
  9. One Hot Flame (Manuel Gutierrez)
  10. Jrs Coronas Shadow (David A. Alvarez)

Also on Friday, 37 3-year-olds have been entered in four 400-yard Firecracker Derby trials.

Together To The End, a graded stakes winner during his 2-year-old season, will make the second start of his sophomore campaign in the third heat. Trained by Roberto Madrigal for owner Alejandro Moya, the homebred daughter of champion Inseperable has earned $110,780 from six starts, and his three wins include a neck victory in last year’s 300-yard, $234,000 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs.

Together To The End will be ridden by Eddie Sanchez from post 2. The filly’s opponents in the third trial include Paragon Farms LLC’s Starfield, a colt by champion FDD Dynasty trained by Jimmy Padgett. Starfield will be making his first start since November 11, when he ran fourth, a half of a length behind winner Thecartelofmiracle, in the 400-yard, $874,000 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Jose A. Alvarez will ride Starfield from post 8.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s trials will meet in the June 30, $100,000-added Firecracker Derby trial.

All Delta Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.


Courtesy Ses