News - Racing March  28, 2024

Late Surge Propels Hez Kwik to Victory in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile


Hez Kwik (#8) defeats Lil Bro Big Streak(#2) in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile(RG3) on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course.

© Lou Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DECEMBER 10, 2016—Hez Kwik raced to the biggest win of his career Saturday when he defeated Lil Bro Big Streak by a neck in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile(RG3) at Fair Grounds Race Course. Fired Up Perry finished a nose off the leaders in third.

Jockey Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. rode Hez Kwik to his third consecutive win in six starts this season. The son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash completed the 350 yards in :18.022 into a 10 mph headwind.

Eliseo Celestino saddled the winner for owner Richard Mendoza. Mendoza of Laredo, Texas has been in the game for only two years.

"This horse has a lot of heart and learns quickly," Celestino said following the race through his son.

Bred by Donald Kelly, Hez Kwik won his trail for the LQHBA Breeders' Futurity in October then scored an allowance victory on November 16th at Evangeline. The $45,000 winners' purse boosted his earnings to nearly $61,000. He is out of the thoroughbred daughter of Bag, Kwik Kash.

Celestino indicated Hez Kwik will get some time off before returning to the track in time for Delta's 2017 season.

Trey Ellis conditioned runner-up Lil Bro Big Streak for owner Melvin Hatley 1987 Trust. Alfonso Lujan rode the son of Jet Black Patriot out of Annas Streakin Dash, by Streakin La Jolla. He earned $17,000. Bobby Miller is the breeder.

Racing for owner-trainer Guadalupe, Fired Up Perry earned $10,000 for third. David Alvarez was aboard the Game Patriot gelding who entered the race off a second-place effort in the $1 million LQHBA Breeders' Futurity(RG1) in his last start. Bred from the Mr Jess Perry mare Perry Five, by Gordon Racing, LLC, Fired Up Perry has earned $273,477.

Shatto Stoli, Watergirl B, Tellem Im Pumped, Jess A Big Deal, Blue Eyed Cartel, Jrs Coronas Shadow, One Hot Flame, Tf Ms Perry Runaway and San Lorenzo Corona completed the field.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.


Courtesy Ses