News - Preview April  24, 2024

Graded Stakes Winner Ivan James Returns in $318,120 Firecracker Futurity


Sam Houston Futurity(G2) winner Ivan James drew post 10 for Saturday’s $318,120 Firecracker Futurity (G2) at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LOUISIANA—JULY 1, 2015—Jorge Meraz’s Ivan James, a graded stakes winning son of Ivory James trained by Rodolfo Sanchez, drew post 10 for Saturday’s 350-yard, $318,120 Firecracker Futurity (G2) at Delta Downs.

A homebred, Ivan James has earned $251,640 from three outs, and his two wins include a 1 1/4-length victory as the odds-on favorite in the 330-yard, $621,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) on April 25. The colt is coming off of a second-place finish in his Firecracker trial on June 13.

Raul Ramirez Jr. has been named to ride Ivan James in the Firecracker final.

Other contenders include First Fancy Prize, an undefeated daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon and the fastest qualifier. The filly has won both of her starts, including the first of eight trials by 2 1/2 lengths, and she has banked $13,038 for her owners, Scott Jones, Monica Jones, and Raymond Loup.

First Fancy Prize will be ridden by John Hamilton from post 8 for trainer Michael Taylor on Saturday.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments--

  1. Tac It Sassy (Danny Lavergne)
  2. Moonflash Garden (Armando Ramirez)
  3. Jess An Angel (Gilbert Ortiz)
  4. Sistahrogue (Patrick Watson)
  5. A Kool Secret (Antonio Alberto)
  6. Paint Me A Storm (Rene Gutierrez)
  7. Not Pretty Perry (David Alvarez)
  8. First Fancy Prize (John Hamilton)
  9. Real Solid Oak (Jose Rodriguez)
  10. Ivan James (Raul Ramirez Jr.).

All Delta Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.


Courtesy Ses