News - Racing March  29, 2024

Lifeinthefastlanes Returns To Win Column In Vals Fortune Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes


Lifeinthefastlanes (#1) holds off Jrs Coronas Toast (#3) in the $65,000 Vals Fortune Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes Monday afternoon at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—JULY 5, 2021—Multiple graded winner Lifeinthefastlanes got her first win of the season today when she held off a fast closing Jrs Coronas Toast by a head in the $65,000 Vals Fortune Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes at Delta Downs.

Under regular rider David Alvarez, the 4-year-old filly put in a strong effort down the inside rail to complete the 400 yards in :19.590 seconds, equaling a 96 speed index. It was the ninth career win for Lifeinthefastlanes and the $39,000 winners' purse boosted her bankroll to $435,881.

Champion trainer Kenneth L. Roberts conditions the daughter of multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue for owners Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc. Wade and Kay Loup, Jr. bred Lifeinthefastlanes from the stakes winning Panther Mountain mare Pantherinthefastlane.

Fourth in her 4-year-old debut, the Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2) and third in the Mothers Day Stakes in her last start, Lifeinthefastlanes came off a perfect 6-for-6 three-year-old season in 2020 when she won the LQHBA Breeders Derby(RG3), Delta Downs LA Bred Derby(RG3) and the Vinton Stakes.

The winning connections of Lifeinthefastlanes accept the Vals Fortune Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes trophy Monday evening at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography
Runner-up Jrs Coronas Toast earned $13,000 for his second-place effort. Trainer Paul Rigdon named jockey Juan Garcia to ride the 4-year-old son of Coronas Leaving You. Rigdon co-owns the bay gelding with Gyth Rigdon, Gerardo Gonzalez and Juan Luis Fernandez. Bred by Julien Stevens, III, from the Toast To Dash mare Egos Toast To Dash, Jrs Coronas Toast has banked $67,044.

Post-time favorite Mpshinning put in late bid to get up for third in the blanket-finish for owner Larry Boudreaux. Erika Huitron conditions the restricted Grade 1 winning son of Mr Piloto from the First To Shine mare Shinningperrydash. Ridden by jockey Nestor Duran, the 5-year-old horse earned $7,150 for the effort. Bred by Jon and Donna McPherson, Mpshinning has won 10 of 24 career starts and earned $824,525.

Sent to the gate at odds of 5-2, Lifeinthefastlanes paid $7.80 to win, $4.40 to place and $3 to show. Jrs Coronas Toast was worth $10 to place and $4.20 to show. Mpshinning returned $2.80 to show.

Eyeondaprize, Love The Way You Fly, Tuckers Prize and Cos Im Kool completed the field.

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Delta Downs’ race week will continue on Tuesday with another nine-race program beginning at 3 pm. The track will be dark on Wednesday and Thursday. Live racing will resume on Friday with a special 12-race program beginning at 1:20 pm.

The card will feature four trials for this year’s Delta Downs Derby and eight trails for the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). There will also be a special Saturday program that features eight more trials for the Lee Berwick. The Saturday program starts at 3 pm (CDT).

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Vals Fortune was one of the most accomplished Louisiana-bred racing champions with durability that may never be matched. The son of Dashing Val, out of the Six Fortunes mare Somthinlikabreeze, was bred in Louisiana by JoBaya Foreman and Joseph P. Irvine. Foaled on January 14, 2001, he was owned by Teddy Abrams, Jr. and trained by M. Heath Taylor.

Vals Fortune set track records at Fair Grounds (300; 350 and 400 yards); Louisiana Downs (350 yards) and Delta Downs (400 and 440 yards). He became the first Louisiana-bred millionaire, winning 20 of 23 career starts and earning $1,111,591 in his illustrious career. He was named Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding and Champion 2-Year-Old by AQHA. Vals Fortune was inducted in the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2020.

His owner Teddy Abrams lost his battle with cancer and passed away on December 26, 2019. The Vals Fortune Stakes was renamed the Vals Fortune Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes by Delta Downs in 2021.

“Teddy was always involved and so easy to train for,” acknowledged Taylor. “He always allowed me to do what was right for the horse. Vals Fortune took me, Teddy and a whole group of people on a ride of a lifetime.”

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Delta Downs will continue with its eight week of American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday with another nine-race program that begins at 3 pm.

For more information about the season visit the track’s website at deltadownsracing.com.

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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