Six Distance Specialists Entered in Delta’s Virgil Bond Stakes
© Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
VINTON, LA—JULY 14, 2020—Six distance specialists, headed by Gary Aber’s Desire Astoli, are entered in Saturday’s 870-yard, $25,000 Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs.
A homebred 5-year-old daughter of Desirio trained by Kenny Roberts, Desire Astoli has won nine of 21 starts, including two of three at the 870 trip, and has earned $112,570. The mare’s 2019 campaign included a wire-to-wire, four-length victory in the 870-yard, $25,000 Fauborg St John Stakes at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.
Desire Astoli has won four of her five outs at Delta Downs. The mare drew post 2 and will be ridden by Donald Watson.
Roberts will also send out stakes winner Jessi Jam for owner Mo Racing. A 4-year-old Jet Black Patriot mare, Jessi Jam is coming off of a victory in the 870-yard, $50,000 Live Oak Stakes (R) for Louisiana-breds on July 6.
Jessi Jam drew post 6 and will be ridden by Randy Edison.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
- Jess Louisiana Boo (Luciano Duenez)
- Desire Astoli (Donald Watson)
- Heza Dash Faster (David Alvarez)
- Louisiana Dressblues (Juan F. Garcia Jr.)
- Im Mighty Fast (Ubaldo Luna)
- Jessi Jam (Randy Edison)
The Virgil Bond Stakes, and all Delta Downs races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.