One Sweet Sugar Caps Off Perfect Season With A Win In The $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity

One Sweet Sugar (#9) gets her head in front of Eyesa Freighttrain B (#7) and San Lorenzo Blood (#1) in the $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–JULY 15, 2023–Delta Downs hosted the richest race program of the year on Saturday tabbed as Louisiana Showcase Night. The 11-race card celebrated Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses with nine stakes races for runners bred in the Bayou State.

The main event on Louisiana Showcase Night was the $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) for 2-year-olds who qualified through trials conducted on June 23.

San Lorenzo Blood left the gate under jockey Jasiel Aquino as the wagering favorite in the Lee Berwick but could no better than third as One Sweet Sugar made a determined run to win the race by a head over Eyesa Freighttrain B. San Lorenzo Blood finished just a nose behind the runner-up.

A daughter of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess, One Sweet Sugar completed the 350 yards in :17.665 seconds, into a 5 mph headwind to take home a winner's purse valued at $312,396.

The winning connections of One Sweet Jess accept the Lee Berwick Futurity stakes trophy from Betty Berwick.
© Coady Photography

Jesus Marquez conditions the Louisiana homebred, out of Sugarshaker B by Heza Fast Dash, for owner-breeder Rogelio Marquez, Jr.  This is the immediate family of All American Futurity(G1) winner Teller Cartel.

"Today she just put the finishing touches on her  year, she was awesome," trainer Marquez said. "Jasiel Aquino did a great job on her; he'll be riding for us for a long time."

After finishing fourth in the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) last March, One Sweet Sugar broke her maiden at Delta Downs in the Lassie Futurity(RG2) trials then returned to win the $327,272 final on May 26. 

One Sweet Sugar in the saddling paddock prior to winning her second major futurity of the year. © Coady Photography

Setting the fastest time in the Lee Berwick trials and returning to win the final gave her a perfect 4-for-4 record at Delta Downs this season.  She has earned $514,788, making her the second-leading money earning 2-year-old in the nation to date and the only two-time futurity winner.

"One Sweet Sugar has a kick at the end of the race and gets into another gear. We are very proud to have finished first and third (San Lorenzo Blood)," owner Marquez said after the win. "This is the third time that I have had two runners in the Lee Berwick and usually we have a winner, and their other horse finishes last. I am happy that I was wrong about that prediction!"

The next generation admires the Lee Berwick Futurity
stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

Marquez won the first of four editions of this race in 2017 with the Heza Fast Dash filly Dashnunder Afullmoon and spoke about her in our interview.

"She started the ride for us and we love her very much!"

One Sweet Sugar is now the second leading money earner for her sire One Sweet Jess, behind Los Alamitos Super Derby(G1) and Golden State Derby(G1) winner Jesstacartel ($686,850). The Grade 1 winning son of Mr Jess Perry is also the sire champion One Sweet Racy ($397,423).

Both One Sweet Sugar and San Lorenzo Blood are paid into the LQHBA Million Futurity(RG1) this fall at Evangeline Downs.

Laddie Futurity(RG2) winner Eyesa Freighttrain B finished second in the blanket-finish to earn $106,215 for second. Trainer Jose Espinosa named jockey Everardo Rodriguez to ride the son of world champion sire Freighttrain B for owner Party Tyme Racing.

Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch bred the bay colt in Louisiana from the Mr Jess Perry mare Eyejesslovelouisiana. Suffering his first loss in four starts, Eyesa Freighttrain B has earned $258,351.

San Lorenzo Blood finished just a nose behind the runner-up to earn $62,479 for third. Also owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr. and trained by Jesus Marquez, the Apollitical Blood filly is a $70,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate.

Winner of the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) in March San Lorenzo Blood was bred by Slash Z Quarter Horses from the Valiant Hero mare Ms Valiant Perry. She has won four of six starts and banked $265,273. David Alvarez was riding.

Sent off at odds of 3-1, One Sweet Sugar paid $8.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Eyesa Freighttrain B returned $5.60 to place and $4 to show. San Lorenzo Blood was worth $2.20 to show.

Completing the official order of finish were Rogues Fast Dash, Wild Blue Debutant, Hotztile Takeover, Eyesa Just Pretty, Jess Train B, Mp Adored and Mp Jess Special.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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Although the 2023 Delta Downs American Quarter Horse Season has come to a close, live racing is not yet finished at the track this summer. For the second consecutive year, Delta Downs will host 15 days of racing that were transferred from the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

The track will be dark next week before the start of a three-nights-per-week schedule starting July 27 and running through September 2. Live racing will be held each Thursday through Saturday beginning at 6:10 pm, with the exception of August 3 – 5.

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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.