Konnan Cartel Qualifies Fastest For $144,635 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3)

Konnnan Cartel, under jockey Victor Ureta, Jr., setting the fastest time for the restricted Grade 3 $144,635 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby Thursday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–JUNE 22, 2023–Delta Downs conducted a pair of qualifying trials for this year’s Delta Downs Derby for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds on Thursday night.

The fastest qualifier was Dania Castellanos’ Konnan Cartel under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr.

Konnan Cartel won the second trial of the night for trainer Josue Ponce and did it in impressive fashion leading every step of the way after breaking from the inside post position.

The Delta Downs Derby is contested at 400 yards. Konnan Cartel stopped the timer in 19.505 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 102. Each race on the program was contested over a fast track.

The win by Konnan Cartel was the fifth of his 11-race career and his second of the season. He also took the Vinton Stakes in his first start of the season on May 27.

He earned $6,000 for this trial score and can add a much bigger paycheck to his bank account on closing night (July 8) in the $144,635 final of the Delta Downs Derby.

Konnan Cartel is a 3-year-old brown gelding by Five Bar Cartel, out of the Jet Black Patriot mare Jet Black Chiraq. He was bred in Louisiana by Luis Armando Castellanos.

Making his first start since a fourth-place effort in the June 3 $268,750 Heritage Place Derby(G2) at Remington Park,  Restricted Grade 1 winner Tha Duke posted a 1-1/4 length win in the opening trial to the get the second fastest qualifying time. Under jockey Arturo Alvarez Tha Duke clocked :19.683 seconds for the 400 yards, a 98 speed index.

Racing for owners Ashton Elder and Miguel Romero, Jr., Tha Duke won the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) last season.  Trainer Raul Rodriguez has saddled the son of multiple stakes sire Rc Me Leaving You to 8 wins in 10 career starts. He has banked $410,610. The Louisianan homebred is out of Precious Perry Girl by Mr Jess Perry.

Mr Piloto led all sires with multiple qualifiers getting three while Five Bar Cartel had two.

CLICK HERE for the 10 finalists for the Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3) with qualifying times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

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Delta Downs will host an expanded 12-race program on Friday night with a special early post time of 5:10 pm. (CDT). The entire card will be made up of qualifying trials for this year’s $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). The race week will wrap up on Saturday night with a nine-race program beginning at 6:10 pm.

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About Delta Downs
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. For more information about the season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.