News - Racing March  28, 2024

Shez the Bomb Edges Out Fellow Fillies and Mares in the Audobon Stakes


Shez The Bomb and jockey Alfonso Lujan capture the Audubon Stakes at Fair Grounds.

© Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, LA—AUGUST 19, 2017—Alfonso Lujan and Shez the Bomb maintained a narrow lead to win the $40,000 Audobon Stakes for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at the Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Shez the Bomb ($20.60) was the third-longest shot in the field and blew up the toteboard relative to the heavy post-time favorite Jet Black Rogue at 3/5, who was eliminated at the start and finished last. Shez the Bomb and Lujan ran the 350-yard event in 17.462 and earned a 97 speed index.

Shez the Bomb is trained by Eusevio Huitron for Watson Land and Cattle and Live Oak Farms. The 3-year-old daughter of Heza Fast Dash was bred by Live Oak Farms, out or Mornin Jess, by Mr Jess Perry.

The Audobon Stakes was the first stakes win for Shez the Bomb in her ten lifetime starts. She was fourth in the Lee Berwick Memorial Louisiana Bred Futurity (RG1) last year and was fifth in her most recent start in the Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby (RG3). Thanks to her multiple stakes appearances, Shez the Bomb’s career earnings to date now exceed $121,000.

Runaway Balance and Donald Watson finished just a head behind the winner but cleared the rest of the stakes field by a length and a half in her first start for the Bruce Bell barn. The 3-year-old daughter of Sir Runaway Dash is owned by Dwayne Saucier.

Runaway Balance is out of the Special Project mare Special Balance, bred in Louisiana by K. La Fleur, D. Primeau and R. Brown. She was third in the LQHBA Invitational last winter at Evangeline and has earned over $60,000 in her eight lifetime starts.

With a closing rush, Jet Black Presence edged out Ms Beauty Betty for third by a nose. Jet Black Presence was ridden by David Alvarez for trainer Kenny Roberts and owner Charles Boudreaux, Jr.

Jet Black Presence was bred by Charles and Irma Lyles, by Jet Black Patriot, out of Provocative Presence by Daunting Presence. The clear second-choice among the wagering public, the 5-year-old mare was third in her most recent start behind Jet Black Rogue in the Flashy Hemp Stakes at Delta Downs last month.

Completing the field were Ms Beauty Betty, Toast This Mvp, Rbd Jessaswingin and Jet Black Rogue.


Courtesy Ses