One Sweet Sugar Upsets San Lorenzo Blood In The $327,272 Lassie Futurity At Delta Downs

One Sweet Jess, under jockey Jasiel Aquino, winning the $327,272 Lassie Futurity(RG2) at Delta Downs Friday night.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–MAY 26, 2023–Delta Downs kicked off a big weekend of American Quarter Horse racing on Friday night with a nine-race program featuring the $327,272 Lassie Futurity (RG2) for 2-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies. The race was won by Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s One Sweet Sugar under jockey Jasiel Aquino.

Marquez figured to have a big chance at victory in the Lassie as he owned the top two qualifiers, San Lorenzo Blood and One Sweet Sugar, both trained by Jesus Marquez. San Lorenzo Blood won her third consecutive race in the qualifying trials three weeks ago after scoring a big win in the $365,000 Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs earlier in the year.

Those facts lead the wagering public to send her to the gate on Friday as the heavy 1-5 favorite, but she stumbled at the break and was unable to recover, finishing a disappointing fourth.

One Sweet Sugar did not suffer the same fate at the break as she broke sharply and dueled with Eyesa Just Pretty throughout the 330-yard test for Louisiana-bred fillies before winning a photo finish by a head.

The winning connections of One Sweet Sugar accept the Lassie Futurity stakes trophy Friday at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography

Mp Adored finished another half length behind the top pair in third. The winner covered the distance over a fast track in a time of 16.685, which equaled a speed index of 93.

The win by One Sweet Sugar was the second of her four-race career. Her only other tally came in the Lassie trials after finishing fourth behind San Lorenzo Blood in the Mardi Gras Futurity. The winner’s paycheck of $163,636 raised her career bankroll to $196,392.

Bred in Louisiana by her owner, One Sweet Sugar is a sorrel filly by One Sweet Jess, out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Sugarshaker B, a half-sister to All American Futurity winner and champion sire Teller Cartel.

One Sweet Sugar in the Lassie Futurity saddling paddock at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography

Runner-up Eyes Just Pretty was a $13,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate owned by Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC.  Janessa Muniz conditions the Carters Cartel filly out of Eye Craft a thoroughbred daughter of Songandaprayer. Sabino Reyes had the riding call to pick up $55,637 for the effort. Also second in the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) in March she has earned $127,301. J. Adcock and Montgomery Equine is the breeder.

Mp Adored, a $15,000 LQHBA Sale graduate, picked up $32,728 for her third-place effort. Trainer Gilberto Gonzalez named jockey Ali Rivera to ride the daughter of All Amerian Futurity winner Mr Piloto for owner Guerra Racing. Grant Farms bred the filly from the Bigtime Favorite mare Adored Bigtime.

Sent to the starting gate as the third choice of the fans at odds of 9-1, One Sweet Sugar paid $20 to win, $8.20 to place and $5.80 to show. Eyesa Just Pretty returned $7.60 to place and $5 to show. Mp Adored was worth $7.40 to show.

San Lorenzo Blood, India de La Nieve, Diamond Blood, Prom Queen Nr, Mp Thornado and Jambalaya Empress completed the field.

Delta Downs will close out the race week on Saturday with another nine-race program that kicks off at 6:10 pm. The card features the $280,271 Laddie Futurity (RG2) and the $40,000 Vinton Stakes.

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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.