News - Racing March  29, 2024

Dashunder Afullmoon Remains Perfect 4-for-4 In Impressive RG1 Lee Berwick Futurity Victory


Dashunder Afullmoon rallies under jockey Eddie Sanchez to win the $705,495 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—JUNE 10, 2017—Ridden by jockey Eddie Sanchez, the undefeated filly Dashunder Afullmoon scored a half-length win over You Drive I Fly in the record setting $705,495 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) at Delta Downs Saturday night. Tf El Whiskey finished another length back in third.

Dashunder Afullmoon put on an impressive rally down the stretch to complete the 350 yards in :17.481 seconds, earnings a 95 speed index into a 15 mph headwind, to pocket a winners' paycheck worth $352,747.

"I have no words, except to thank the Lord and our team. She is an amazing filly," Sanchez said following the race.

Jose Sanchez conditions the daughter of leading Louisiana sire Heza Fast Dash for owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. From Roseberg, Texas, Marquez purchased the brown filly for $44,500 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale last August.

Bred by D & Racing LLC (now Springhill Farm), the filly also won the RG2 Lassie Futurity in May. Out of the Dash Ta Fame mare Full Moon Dasher, half-sister to champion/champion sire First Moonflash, Dashunder Afullmoon is now the leading earning 2-year-old in the nation with $527,089 in the bank.

"She is a once in a lifetime horse," Marquez, said following the victory. "To win the shake in the Lassie Futurity and win that and be the fastest qualifier for this was beyond our dreams. Tonight the pressure was on her and she handled it perfectly. This is a team effort with my dad; everyone in Louisiana has welcomed us and we will never forget this."

The winning connections of Dashunder Afullmoon accept the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) stakes trophy Saturday night at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography
Marquez said Dashunder Afullmoon is paid in the LQHBA Sale Futurity(G1) in September but they will wait for the million-dollar Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs this fall.

"We will give her some time," he added. "She has more than earned it!"

It was big night for owner Marquez who also owns Lee Berwick third-place finisher Tf El Whiskey. Martin Trejo conditions the colt by Sir Runaway Dash who was also third in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) in May. He picked up $70,549 tonight. Jockey Jorge Linares was aboard the juivenile, out of Toast To Mallard by Toast To Dash, who was also a $42,000 purchase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale for Marquez. Tf El Whiskey has banked $110,363 this season.

Jockey Eddie Sanchez returns after wining Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) with Dashunder Afullmoon. © Coady Photography
Second-placed Lee Berwick finisher You Drive I Fly, a colt by multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot, suffered his first loss in three starts for owner/breeders Richard Simon and Janelle Zachary. Donald Watson was up for trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr.

Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Shakemupperry, You Drive I Fly was a $30,000 repurchase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. The $119,934 second-place check boosted You Drive I Fly's earnings to more than $140,000.

Eye Am Sizzlin, Angiesprizepatriot, Dashing For the Money, Tg Toy, Heza Kat, Fabulously Black and Ttt Kas completed the field.

Second Down Leaving Rallies To Win Louisiana Juvenile

Second Down Leaving, a son of champion sire Coronas Leaving You, rallied under jockey Manuel Gutierrez to get his second win in as many starts when he defeated Shesa Diamond Diva by half-a-length in the $50,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes. Shez Dead Serious finished another half-a-length back in third.

Second Down Leaving, under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, winning the Louisiana Juvenile Saturday at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography
Javier Noel Contreras saddled the bay colt that covered the 350 yards in a quick :17.219 clocking, getting a 103-speed index with a 10 mph tailwind. The $30,000 winner's purse boosted Second Down Leaving's earnings to $37,200.

Grant Farms LLC bred the $26,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate from the Mr Jess Perry mare Second Down Perry.

Runner-up Shesa Diamond Diva races for owner Cruz Nava and trainer Jose Sanchez. Eddie Sanchez rode the Struttin To Beduino filly out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Sheza Fortune. Bred by Paul Fontenot, Jr., the gray filly picked up $10,000 for her effort.

The winning connections of Second Down Leaving accept the Louisiana Juvenile stakes trophy. © Coady Photography
Trainer Brian Stroud saddled third-place finisher Shez Dead Serious for owner Pete Scarmardo. Gilbert Ortiz had the ridding assignment aboard the Swingin Jess filly out of Deadly by Leaving Memories. Bred by Narciso Flores the sorrel filly banked $5,500.

Jrs Natural Runaway, Mary Faye, Cold Brown Bottle, Jezz Chick, Going Hot, Jrs Ego Runaway and Lrh Cajun Invader completed the field.

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.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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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.


Courtesy Ses