Owner Bobby Cox Bookends Rich Delta Downs LA-Bred Derby Trials

VINTON, LA—JUNE 17, 2016—A pair of 3-year-olds owned by Bobby D. Cox ended the night with the fastest and 10th fastest qualifying times for the restricted Grade 3 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby after four trials races were contested at Delta Downs Friday night.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the 38 accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds who participated in the trials, will return to Delta Downs on Saturday, July 9th to vie for the winner's share of $244,430 purse going 400 yards.

Trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. saddled both of Cox's derby finalists, as well also getting the 6th fastest qualifier.

Ridden by jockey Donald Watson, multiple stakes winner Jessa Louisiana Zoom rolled to a three-quarter length victory in the third trial to clock the fastest time of :19.618 seconds, a 96 speed index into a 6 mph headwind.

The winner of last year's RG1 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity and RG2 LQHBA Lassie Futurity scored her fifth career win in eight starts. The filly entered the race off a second place effort in the $50,000 Vinton Stakes, after getting bumped at the start, in 3-year-old debut.

The Vinton Stakes was the first start for the daughter of multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue for her new owner. Cox purchased the filly from Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc after a fifth place effort in the $1 million LQHBA Breeders' Futurity(RG1), her last start as a two-year-old.

Lyle Guilllory bred the $533,553 earner from the Azoom mare Zoomin For Cash. The second dam is All American Futurity winner Corona Cash.

Cox co-owns 10th fastest qualifier, The Renaissance Man, with Chad Hart. Also ridden by Watson, the son of Coronas Leaving You finished fourth in the last trial while recording a time of :20.001 seconds to get into the derby final.

The Roberts trainee is multiple graded stakes-placed finishing second in the LQHBA Laddie Futurity(RG2) and third in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) last year. He has earned nearly $170,000.

Trainer Martin Trejo saddled LQHBA Laddie Futurity(RG2) winner to the second fastest qualifying time after winning the final trial. Ridden by jockey Manuel Gutierrez, the Oak Tree Special gelding surged to his fourth win in five career starts to stop the clock at :19.686, a 94 speed index.

It was the fist start in almost a year for the Double H Racing Investment LLC owned runner. Weetona Stanley bred the earner of $167,041 from the Fly Jess Fly mare First Prize Diamond. Former Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash, a sister to First Down Dash, is the second dam.

Jet Black Patriot led all sires with four finalists. Coronas Leaving You and Jess Louisiana Blue are the only other sires with multiple qualifiers, with each stallion getting two into the final.

For the complete list of Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3) qualifiers, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Delta Downs will close out its ninth week of live racing on Saturday night with a special 15-race program that starts at 3:50 pm CT. Each race on the card will serve as a qualifying trial for this year’s $690,295 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which will also be contested on closing night of the season Saturday, July 9. This year’s Lee Berwick Futurity will be the richest Quarter Horse race ever contested at Delta Downs.

For more information about the upcoming season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.