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Lee Berwick Futurity Headlines Stakes Bonanza at Delta Downs


Fastest qualifier Eysa Jess Jumpin drew post 3 four the 36th running of the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1).

© Coady Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA—JULY 6, 2018—The 36th running of the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) is one of seven official Louisiana-bred stakes scheduled for Saturday at Delta Downs, closing night of the track’s spring/summer Quarter Horse meet.

Eysa Jess Jumpn, a brown daughter of Heza Fast Dash trained by Josue Huitron for owner Jose Estrada Quarter Horses, drew post 3 and will be ridden by David Alvarez. The fastest qualifier, the filly is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the ninth of 14 Lee Berwick Futurity trials on June 16.

Spring Hill Farm LLC and Sheree Dunn bred the fastest qualifier from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Jumpn.

Other contenders include Dick Bush Racing LLC’s The Mighty Moose, a daughter of Fast Prize Dash trained by Eduardo Morales. The Mighty Moose has earned $78,019 from five races, and the filly’s resume includes third-place finishes in the 300-yard, $310,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) on March 17, and the 330-yard, $284,000 Louisiana Breeders’ Lassie Futurity (RG2) on May 18.

The Mighty Moose drew post 7 and will be ridden by Noe Castaneda.

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

  1. Roster Man (Randy Edison)
  2. Mr Range Rover (J.R. Ramirez)
  3. Eysa Jess Jumpn (David Alvarez)
  4. Mr Coahuila (Eddie Sanchez)
  5. Appolitical Black (Everardo Rodriguez)
  6. Five Bar Perry (Damian Martinez)
  7. The Mighty Moose (Noe Castaneda)
  8. Zoomin Patriot (Jesse Levario)
  9. Smoken Cartel (John Hamilton)
  10. Sir Eye Opener (Manuel Gutierrez)

Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2)

Ten state-bred aged runners, topped by defending champion Heza Louisiana Dash, have been entered in Saturday’s 440-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2).

Trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr. for Robert S. Holland’s TM Ranch, Heza Louisiana Dash will be making just his second start of the season.

Multiple stakes winner Heza Louisiana Dasher will head the 440-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2) on Saturday. © Coady Photography
The 6-year-old Heza Fast Dash gelding made his season debut with a fourth-place finish, one length behind winner Lightemupwithcharm, in the 400-yard, $60,000 Vals Fortune Stakes (RG20 on June 8.

Heza Louisiana Dash has won 12 of 27 races and has earned $499,641, and his seven wins in 12 outs at Delta include a head victory as the 1-2 favorite in last year’s Louisiana Classic. The gelding drew post 5 and will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz.

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

  1. Lightemupwithcharm (Everardo Rodriguez)
  2. JRS Coronas Shadow (David Alvarez)
  3. Heza Bell Perry (Antonio Alberto)
  4. TF Racee Runaway (John Hamilton)
  5. Heza Louisiana Dash (Gilbert Ortiz)
  6. San Lorenzo Corona (Eddie Sanchez)
  7. Sizzlin On Da Bayou (Pedro C. Espinosa)
  8. Ho Lotta Game (Noe Castaneda)
  9. Gone Cartel (Damian Martinez)
  10. JLS Tohottotouch (Ricardo Hernandez Jr.)

Delta Downs Derby (R)

Fastest qualifier Shesa Diamond Diva, a daughter of Struttin To Beduino owned by Crown Horse Racing LLC, drew post 6 for Saturday’s 400-yard, $268,655 Delta Downs Derby (R) for Louisiana-bred sophomores.

Fastest qualifier Shesa Diamond Diva drew post 6 for Saturday’s 400-yard, $268,655 Delta Downs Derby.
© Coady Photography
Trained by Jose Luis Sanchez III, Shesa Diamond Diva made her 3-year-old debut with a one-length victory in the third of five trials on June 15. The filly has won four of her eight starts, all in Louisiana, and she has banked $278,221. She ended her juvenile campaign with a second-place finish, one length behind winner You Drive I Fly, in the 400-yard, $1-million Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline Downs on December 16.

Shesa Diamond Diva will be ridden by Eddie Sanchez.

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

  1. Ima Gone Reba (John Hamilton)
  2. Cant Catchacorona (David Alvarez)
  3. JRS Taylors Runnaway (Jorge Linares)
  4. Featuring Fast Jess (Noe Castaneda)
  5. Heza Jess Cuervo (Damian Martinez)
  6. Shesa Diamond Diva (Eddie Sanchez)
  7. The Cazador (Antonio Alberto)
  8. Fabulously Black (Donald Watson)
  9. Lil Biscuit (Everardo Rodriguez)
  10. Second Down Leaving (Manuel Gutierrez)

Fernando Ramirez’s JW Who Dat is one of eight state-bred distance specialists entered in Saturday’s 870-yard, $50,000 Live Oak Stakes (R). A 6-year-old Agouti gelding trained by Eric Palacio, JW Who Dat has won all three of his races at this distance, including the June 1, $25,000 Virgil Bond 870 Stakes at Delta on June 1. JW Who Dat drew post 4 and will be ridden by Antonio Alberto.

Bubba Mallard, a gray son of Sir Runaway Dash trained by Eduardo Morales for owner Aurelio Juarez, drew post 4 for Saturday’s 220-yard, $50,000 Flying Breed Stakes (R). The 4-year-old gelding will be shortening in distance off of his second-place finish in the 400-yard, $60,000 Vals Fortune Stakes (RG2) on June 8. John Hamilton will ride Bubba Mallard.

Ten Louisiana-bred distaffers have been entered in Saturday’s 330-yard, $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes (R). M & M Stables LLC’s La Mos Corona brings in a five-race win streak that includes three state-bred stakes dashes. The 4-year-old Coronas Leaving You gelding drew post 2 and will be ridden by Floriberto Maldonado for trainer Orlando Orozco.

Show Me Da Money LLC’s Shakeshakeshakeit, a sorrel Five Bar Cartel gelding trained by Michael Taylor, will make his next start from post 7 in Saturday’s 350-yard, $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes (R). Shakeitshakeitshakeit has earned $181,538 from three races, and he broke his maiden with a nose victory in the 330-yard, $360,000 Louisiana Breeders’ Laddie Futurity (RG2) on May 19. The gelding will be ridden by Antonio Alberto.

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


Courtesy Ses