Louisiana Dressblues Wins Second Straight Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs

VINTON, LA—JULY 18, 2020—Delta Downs hosted a rare distance stakes race on Saturday night as the track wrapped up its sixth week of American Quarter Horse racing for 2020. The $33,000 Virgil Bond Stakes at 870 yards turned into a stretch battle between race favorite Desire Astoli and last year’s Virgil Bond hero Louisiana Dressblues.

In the end it was the latter who prevailed following an exciting stretch duel.

After tracking the early leader Desire Astoli around the far turn as she set the early pace, Louisiana Dressblues straightened away in the upper-stretch under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. with two lengths to make up.

The task was big, but the 5-year-old gelding was up to the challenge and proceeded to wear down his rival to win by a half-length. Jessi Jam rounded out the top three by finishing another 6-1/2 lengths behind the top pair.

Louisiana Dressblues, who is owned by Wilson One Consulting LLC and trained by Trey Ellis, covered the distance of the Virgil Bond in a time of 45.898 seconds while running on a fast track. The clocking earned him a speed index of 96.

Louisiana Dressblues has now won six of 16 career starts. His $21,000 first place prize on Saturday raised his overall bankroll to $112,820.

Bred in Louisiana by Easy Acres Performance Horses, Louisiana Dressblues is a chestnut gelding by Jess Louisiana Blue, out of the Meadowlake(TB) mare Charlomaine (TB).

Stakes winner Desire Astoli races for owner-breeder Gary Aber. The Texas-bred son of Desirio was ridden by jockey Donald Watson. Leading trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. conditions the sorrel 4-year-old from the Stoli mare Stoli Victory. She has compiled a (22) 9-3-1 record and the $5,000 second-place check increased her earnings to $117,570.

Third-place finisher Jessie Jam, also from the Roberts stable races for owner MO Racing. The 4-year-old daughter of Jet Black Patriot earned $3,850 for the effort. Randy Edison had the riding assignment on the gray filly from the Royal Sovereign mare Royal Rio Miss. Juan San Miguel, Jr. bred the stakes winner of $72,150.

Sent to the starting gate at odds of 4-1, Louisiana Dressblues paid $10.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. Desire Astoli returned $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Jessi Jam was worth $3.20 to show.

Jess Louisiana Boo, Im Mighty Fast and Heza Dash Faster completed the field.

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Delta Downs will begin its seventh week of American Quarter Horse racing on Thursday with a nine-race program that begins at 6:15 pm CT. The featured race on Thursday will be the grade II $40,000 Miss Polly Classic Stakes.

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For more information about the 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.