Firecracker Derby Trials Draw 28 Sophomores

Graceful Eagle will make her first start since winning the 2016 Texas Classic Juvenile at Lone Star Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

VINTON, LA—JUNE 6, 2017—Florentino Leon’s Graceful Eagle, a stakes-winning daughter of One Famous Eagle, is one of 28 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s 400-yard Firecracker Derby (G3) trials at Delta Downs.

Graceful Eagle is trained by Eusevio Huitron and will be making her season debut on Friday. The filly has earned $54,547 from seven starts, and her three wins include a half-length victory as the 3-1 in favorite in the November 12, $50,000 Texas Classic Juvenile Invitational Stakes at Lone Star Park.

Graceful Eagle will be ridden by Damian Martinez from post 9 in the second of three trials.

Other prominent sophomores entered in the Firecracker Derby trials include Mega Hero, a gray daughter of Ivory James who will be putting her three-race win streak on the line in the first heat. Trained by Jose Sanchez for owner Double H Racing Investments LLC, the filly will be stretching out in distance off of her three-quarter length win in the 350-yard, $63,000 Old South Derby on May 12.

Mega Hero drew post 7 and will be ridden by Manuel Gutierrez.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the June 30, $100,000-added Firecracker Derby final.

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