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Delta Downs Derby Trials Set for Thursday


LQHBA Louisiana Million(RG1) winner Tha Duke is entered in Thursday's 400-yard Delta Downs Derby (RG3) trials at Delta Downs Racetrack.

© Coady Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA–JUNE 20, 2023–Twenty Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, led by graded stakes winner Tha Duke and recent stakes winner Konnan Cartel, are entered in Thursday's 400-yard Delta Downs Derby (RG3) trials at Delta Downs Racetrack.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Thursday's two heats will meet in the July 15, $75,000-added final.

Raced in two states, including Texas, Tha Duke has earned $404,610 from nine starts, and he ended his juvenile season with a 1 1/4-length victory in Louisiana's richest Quarter Horse race, the December 17, $1-million LQHBA Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline Downs. Raul Rodriguez trains the homebred RC Me Leaving You gelding for owners Ashton Elder and Miguel Romero Jr.

Tha Duke drew post 3 and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez in the first trial.

Konnan Cartel drew the rail post and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr. in the second heat. A homebred son of Five Bar Cartel trained by Josue Ponce for owner Dania Castellanos, the gelding is coming off of a wire-to-wire, three-quarter length win in the 400-yard, $40,000 Vinton Stakes (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds at Delta Downs on May 27.

All Delta Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.
 
Courtesy Ses