News - Racing March  28, 2024

Fair Corona Down Breaks Through With First Stakes Win in Louisiana Champions Day Derby


First Corona Down, under jockey Alfonso Lujan, winning the $100,00 Louisiana Champions Day Derby(RG2) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans Saturday.

© Lou Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DECEMBER 10, 2016—At 28-1, First Corona Down scored her first career stakes win after a blanket finish in the $100,00 Louisiana Champions Day Derby(RG2) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Under jockey Alfonso Lujan, the daughter of multiple stakes sire Coronas Leaving You, went to front early then held off a game effort by Jet Black Zoomer to win by a head. Toastin With Corona and Zoominforgrady finished a nose back in a dead-heat for third.

Saddled by Trey Ellis for owner Gene Cox, the bay filly completed the 400 yards in :20.062 seconds, a 92-speed index into a 7 mph headwind. The $45,000 winner's purse boosted her career mark to $202,032.

"She's been a sleeper but always jumps up and pulls through in the big money races," Ellis concluded after the race.

"We are very proud of her," owner Gene Cox said following the win. "She went out with a bang and will go to the breeding shed here on Louisiana."

Joseph Landrenau's Jet Black Zoomer earned $17,000 for his second place effort. The graded stakes winning son of Jet Black Patriot is trained by Kelli Smith and ridden by Antonio Alberto. S K T Farms, Inc. bred the brown gelding from the Shazoom mare Dealazoom. He has earned $124,474.

Toastin With Coronas and Zoominforgrady each picked up $8,500 for third.

Ellis and Cox also teamed with Toastin With Coronas. John Hamilton rode the daughter of Coronas Leaving You form the Toast To Dash mare Princess Toast. The homebred for Cox is a multiple graded stakes-placed earner of $111,998.

Guadalupe Tristan saddled Zoominforgrady for owner Triple C Racing Stables LLC. Dr. Dudley Chewning bred the Zoomin for Bux gelding from the First Down Jewel mare Supers First Jewel. J.R. Ramirez was aboard the multiple graded stakes-placed earner of $83,541.

First Corona Down rewarded backers with $58.80 to win, $22 to place and $9 to show. Jet Black Zoomer returned $12.60 and $5.80 and Zoominforgrady paid $2.40 to show while Toastin With Coronas returned $3.40.

Completing the field were My Favorite Blue, Cute Mic Jagger, Telarosa, Gone Cartel, Jessa Louisiana Zoom, Ricky Rockstar and Jetz A Streakin.


Courtesy Ses