Louisiana Jewels Nails Top Spot For Record Breaking $690,295 Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs

VINTON, LA—JUNE 18, 2016—Delta Downs hosted 15 qualifying trials for this year’s Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which will carry the richest Quarter Horse purse in track history on closing night, Saturday, July 9.

The 10 qualifiers will vie for the winner's share of a $690,295 purse this year.

The fastest qualifier from the trials was this year’s LQHBA Lassie Futurity(RG2) winner Louisiana Jewels, who took the ninth race of the night under jockey Joe Badilla, Jr.

Louisiana Jewels, who is owned by Harlow Stables of Eric P. Johnson and is trained by Michael Taylor, covered 350 yards over a fast track in 17.733 seconds. That time equaled a speed index of 85.

Louisiana Jewels is now three-for-three during her brief career with all of her wins coming at Delta Downs this season. She earned $9,000 for her trial run and now boasts a career bankroll of $167,006. Each trial on Saturday night carried a total purse of $15,000 for the Louisiana-breds taking part.

Bred in the Bayou State by Jerry West, Louisiana Jewels is a 2-year-old filly by multiple stakes sire Jess Louisiana Blue, out of the First Down Jewel mare Jewels Fortune. She was purchased for $42,000 as a yearling at the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Yearling Sale in 2015.

Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) winner Rdd Lajollanfastdash pushed his record to a perfect 3-for-3 after winning the fifth trial by half-a-length under jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr. The son of leading Louisiana sire Heza Fast Dash posted the second fastest time of :17.724 seconds.

Willie Simien, Jr. conditions the gray gelding for owner Miguel Aguilar. Richard Dale Domingue bred the$10,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale Graduate from the Streakin La Jolla mare La Jollan Queen. He has earned $135, 475.

Michael Taylor also saddled third fastest qualifier Tellem Im Pumped, a gelded son of world champion sire Stoli from the Teller Cartel mare Pump It Teller. It was the first win in three starts for the 2-year-old ridden by jockey Joe Badilla, Jr.

Ten For Ten LLC paid $8,200 for Tellem Im Pumped at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Jim and Natalie Montgomery is the breeder.

Heza Fast Dash was the leading sire with three finalists. First crop sire Sizzlin Cartel sired one qualifier.

For the list of all 10 qualifiers for this year’s Lee Berwick Futurity, which is named after the original owner and operator of Delta Downs from 1973-2001, CLICK HERE.

Delta Downs will begin its 10th week of live racing on Wednesday night with a 10-race program scheduled to begin at 6:15 pm.

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.

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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.