News - Preview March  29, 2024

Delta Downs Opens Meet with Stakes Doubleheader, Old South Derby Trials


Mardi Gras Derby winner Five Bar Jess Cartel will be facing aged runners for the first in the $40,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2)at Delta Downs Friday.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA–APRIL 24, 2023–Delta Downs will open its 46-date American Quarter Horse meet with a xx-race program on Friday, topped by a stakes doubleheader and four 350-yard Old South Derby trials.

Post time for the first race is set for 6:15 p.m. (CDT).

A full field of 10 Louisiana-breds are entered in Friday's 350-yard, $40,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2). Fausto G. Mendoza's Five Bar Jess Cartel and CB Racing Stables' RF Fast Dash N Jess both bring three-race win streaks into the Open Me A Corona. A sorrel Five Bar Cartel colt trained by Joel Huitron, Five Bar Jess Cartel will be facing aged runners for the first time off of his one-length victory in the April 1, $104,000 Mardi Gras Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds at Louisiana Downs.

Five Bar Jess Cartel drew post 9 and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna.

RF Fast Dash N Jess is undefeated since he was claimed for $10,000 on August 20. A 4-year-old son of One Sweet Jess trained by Xavier Scott, the gelding ended his sophomore campaign with a half-length win in the 400-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG2) at Evangeline Downs on December 17.

RF Fast Dash N Jess drew post 5 and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez.

Also on Friday, a full field of 10 sprinters is entered in the 250-yard, $20,000 Delta Dash Stakes.

Rogelio Marquez Jr.'s San Lorenzo Dash is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Jess Dash Fast, in the March 24, 330-yard Bill Montgomery Stakes (R) at Louisiana Downs. The homebred 4-year-old Heza Fast Dash mare drew the rail post and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna for trainer Jesus M. Marquez.

Thirty-six 3-year-olds are entered in Friday's Old South Derby trials.

JP General, a gelded son of champion A Revenant owned and trained by Jose R. Espinosa, will be making his first start since September 5, when the gelding ran seventh, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Hes Judgeandjury, in Quarter Horse racing's richest race, the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. A $105,000 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, JP General has earned $115,200 from five races.

JP General drew post 3 and will be ridden by Cipriano Vidana in the third of four trials.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday's heats will meet in the May 19, $50,000-added Old South Derby final.

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


 
Courtesy Ses