Mega Hero Rolls In Old South Derby as Trainer Jose Sanchez Saddles Trifecta

VINTON, LA—MAY 12, 2017—Mega Hero rolled to his first career stakes win Friday night when he defeated his stablemate Ardor by three-quarters in the $62,715 Old South Derby at Delta Downs. Another stablemate Tres Seis Sign finished a nose back in the show position.

The top three finishers are all from the barn of trainer Jose Sanchez.

Ridden by jockey Manuel Gutierrez, Mega Hero completed the 350 yards in :17.611 seconds, a 91-speed index with no wind. It was the fourth win in seven starts for the son of multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot.

Sanchez conditions the Texas-bred for owner Double H Racing Investment LLC. Bred by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC, from the Separatist mare Separatist In View, Mega Hero earned $31,358 to boost his career earnings total to $43,095.

Sanchez second-place finisher, Ardor, is a Texas-bred son of Ivory James, also owned by Double H Racing Investment LLC. The brown gelding was third in the Grade 3 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity last year at Louisiana Downs.

Bobby D. Cox bred Ardor from First Fervor by First Down Dash. The second fastest qualifier in the March 21st trials, he has compiled (9) 3-2-1 record and pocketed $10,662 tonight to bring his earnings total to $44,792.

Sanchez got the trifecta with Tres Seis Sign, a lightly raced maiden homebred racing for owner/breeder Armando Luis Moya. Eddie Sanchez rode the Tres Seis colt out of Sign Anna First by Reeds Dash. With a (4) -2-1 record, Tres Seis Sign picked up $6,272 for third. Second in last year's Old South Futurity, the bay colt has earned $23,091.

Sent to the gate at odds of 7-1, Mega Hero returned $16.20 to win, $8 to place and $5 to show. Ardor was worth $5.80 to place and $3.60 to show. Tres Seis Sign paid $4.80 to show.

Jmf Western Cartel and Td Famous Jess finished in dead-heat for fourth. Completing the field were Jess A Fighter, Tough Too Catch, Jmf Dashing and First Impulse. Fastest qualifier Jmf Dashing was fractious in the gate and gave way after making an early bid.

Delta Downs will close out its fourth week of live American Quarter Horse racing on Saturday night with another 10-race program that includes the $81,430 Old South Futurity and the $25,000 Mother’s Day Stakes. The Saturday card is scheduled to begin at 6:15 pm (CDT).