News - Racing March  29, 2024

Open Me A Corona Wins His Second Straight John Alleman Memorial at Delta Downs on Opening Night


Open Me A Corona, under jockey David Alvarez, easily wins the John Alleman Stakes at Delta Downs Friday night.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—APRIL 22, 2016—Delta Downs kicked off its 2016 American Quarter Horse season on Friday night with a 10-race program that included the $50,000 John Alleman Memorial Stakes (RG3) as well as five trials for this year’s $71,075 Old South Derby (see related story).

The 2016 edition of the John Alleman looked much like the 2015 running of the same race as Open Me A Corona prevailed for the second year in a row. The Bobby Martinez trainee broke from the gate in third position but quickly grabbed the lead in the 350-yard showdown and drew clear to win by 1½-lengths over Heza Louisiana Dash. Scoopies Leaving You wound up another 2¾-lengths behind in third.

Open Me A Corona finished the distance over a fast track in :17.466 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 92. Jockey David Alvarez has had the riding assignment.

Open Me A Corona, who is owned by Charles Forbes, Jr. and Tommy Hays, has now won 13 of 16 career starts and six of his seven outs at Delta Downs. Friday’s $30,000 paycheck raised his overall bankroll to $782,758.

Co-owner Tommy Hays accepts the John Alleman Stakes trophy for the second year in a row at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography
Bred in Louisiana by Natalie Montgomery DVM, Open Me a Corona is a 6-year-old sorrel horse by Coronas Leaving You out of the Mr Eye Opener mare In the Open.

Stakes winner Heza Louisiana Dash races for owner TM Ranch and trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. The son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash is a six-time winner and the $10,000 John Alleman runner-up purse boosted his career total to $232,115. Gilbert Ortiz was aboard the Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch bred gelding from the Mr Jess Perry mare Eyejesslovelouisiana.

Trainer Kevin Broussard conditions the graded stakes winning Scoopies Leaving You for owner Joel Galindo. Ridden by Donald Watson, the 5-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Coronas Leaving You, earned $5,500 for the effort. Bred by Gerald Libersat, from the Toast To Dash mare Ms Scoopies Toast, Scoopies Leaving You has earned $234,280.

Sent to the gate as the heavy wagering favorite at odds of 3-5, Open Me a Corona returned $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Heza Louisiana Dash was worth $3 to place and $2.60 to show. Scoopies Leaving You paid $3 to show.

Ld Streakin N Leavin, Zoominforgrady, Louisiana Jambalaya, Firefly Fortune, My Favorite Blue and Strong Guns completed the field.

Delta Downs will wrap up opening weekend on Saturday night with another 10-race program that is set to begin at 6:15 pm CT. The featured race of the night will be the $20,000 Delta Dash Stakes. There will also be six qualifying trials for this year’s $88,935 Old South Futurity on the program.

For more information about the current season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.

Courtesy Ses