Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeder Association

News - Racing April 24, 2024

Stone Cold Leader Cruises To Victory In The Delta 550 Stakes At Delta Downs

Stone Cold Leader, under jockey Rolando Pina, winning the $27,100 Delta 550 for 3-year-olds and up Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—MAY 4, 2019—Delta Downs hosted its only stakes race of the week on Saturday night. It was the $27,100 Delta 550 for 3-year-olds and up competing at 550 yards. The race was won by last year’s Firecracker Futurity(G2) winner Stone Cold Leader with jockey Rolando Pina in the saddle for trainer Willie J. Simien, Jr.

Stone Cold Leader, who is owned by Patrick Richardson, broke sharply in his 550-yard debut and was on the lead throughout the race. In the final strides, Pina sat chilly on the winner as he reported home one length in front of Jes A Spitfire who finished second. Ww Showtime wound up third, another head behind the runner-up.

Stone Cold Leader covered the distance over a fast track in :27.004 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 99.

The win by Stone Cold Leader marked his fourth in a row and his third straight stakes tally. In all he has won 11-of-20 races and his first-place prize of $15,000 on Saturday raised his bankroll to $450,333.

Bred in Indiana by Mark Michel, Stone Cold Leader is a 4-year-old brown gelding by Brookstone Bay, out of the Leader Of The Class mare Sheza Classy Leader.

Jes A Spitfire, a 5-year-old Walk Thru Fire mare owned by Vickie Davis, earned $5,000 for second. Also trained by Simien, the Indiana-bred mare was ridden by jockey Jose Rodriguez. Jaime Gomez bred Jes A Spitfire from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Delightful. Winner of the Marathon Stakes at Louisiana Downs in January, she has banked nearly $70,000.

Third-place finisher Ww Showtime races for owner Victoria Galindo and is trained by Alejandra Garza. Antonio Alberto had the riding call aboard the 7-year-old First Prize Perry horse out of Ww Family Tradition by Strawfly Special Bred by Darrel Williams, the graded-stakes-placed 7-year-old picked up $4,400 to bring his bankroll to $93,370.

Sixes Flash, Bjs Magic Wings, Im Mighty Fast and Struttinmyjewelsoff completed the field. Volcom Royalty was scratched.

Sent to the gate as the heaviest of favorites, Stone Cold Leader paid $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Jes A Spitfire returned $5.40 to place and $4 to show. Ww Showtime was worth $3.40 to show.

Delta Downs will embark on its fourth week of live American Quarter Horse racing Wednesday night starting at 6:15 pm CST. Next week’s stakes activity includes the Old South Futurity and Derby finals as well as the Open Me a Corona and Mother’s Day Stakes.

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Delta Downs will begin its third week of live American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night with 10-race program that kicks off at 6:15 pm CST.

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For more information about the new season visit the track’s website at deltadownsracing.com.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

LQHBA is the official authorized representative of the American Quarter Horse racing and breeding industry in Louisiana, the unified voice of quarter Horse breedings in the State of Louisiana for purposes of communicatting the advantages and rewards of breeding Quarter Horses in the State and for the purposes of a conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing agencies.