News - Racing March  29, 2024

Heza Louisiana Dash Posts Top Mark in $217,640 Delta Downs Derby Trials


Jockey Patrick Watson rides Heza Louisiana Dash to the fastest qualifying time in Friday's Delta Downs Derby trials.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—JUNE 19, 2015—Getting his second win in as many starts this season, Heza Louisiana Dash showed early speed then held to a half-length victory Friday night while posting the top qualifying mark of the $217,640 Delta Downs Derby trials.

The 10 fastest accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, from the four trials contested on Friday's card, will return to Delta Downs on Saturday, July 11 and vie for the winner's share of the purse worth $108,820.

Coming off a solid one-length allowance win at Delta May 21, Heza Louisiana Dash covered the 400 yards in :19.755 seconds to record the top trial time and earn a 91 speed index into the 5 mph headwind. It was the fourth win in eight career starts for the Heza Fast Dash gelding who closed out his 2-year-old season with a close second in the $40,000-Guaranteed LQHBA Breeders' Juvenile at Evangeline Downs.

Patrick Watson rode the 3-year-old, owned by T M Ranch, for trainer Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr. Bred by Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch , from the Mr Jess Perry mare Eyejesslovelouisiana, Heza Louisiana Dash has earned nearly $75,000.

Trainer Kenneth Roberts also saddled the 5th, 7th and 9th qualifiers.

Alejandro Sanchez, Jr.'s Louisiana Legends was an impressive one-length winner over Icanonlyemagine in the final trial to get the second fastest time of :19.756 seconds. Carlos Saldivar saddled the multiple stakes-placed Jet Black Patriot gelding out of Sheza Cash Dasher, by Some Dasher.

Jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr. rode the sorrel that entered the race off a second place effort in the Vinton Stakes on May 23. Bred by Patton Farms, Louisiana Legends has earned $95,677.

Leading sires Heza Fast Dash and Jet Black Patriot sired three qualifiers each.

For the complete list of Delta Downs Derby finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Each of the Delta Downs Derby trials offered a purse of $15,000 and the winner’s share in each race was $9,000.

Delta Downs will cap off its ninth week of racing with a special 12-race program on Saturday night that beings at 5:30 pm CT. Each race on Saturday’s program will serve as a qualifying trial for this year’s $634,435 Lee Berwick Futurity which will take place on Saturday, July 11.

For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’.

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