News - Racing March  28, 2024

Jls Dash N Fire Slight Surprise in Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby


JLS Dash N Fire (#8) streaks past Ho Lotta Game (#9) and A Nother Zoobilee (#12) to the finish with John Hamilton aboard in the Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course.

© Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DECEMBER 8, 2018—Restricted grade 2 winner Jls Dash N Fire (7-1) got his first win of the year on Saturday when he defeated Ho Lotta Game by a neck in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby(RG3) at Fair Grounds Race Course.

Veteran jockey John Hamilton had a good handle on Jls Dash N Fire, who's gate popped open pre-start. The son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash got a speedy break and was a game winner to complete the 400 yards, over a sloppy racetrack into a 15 mph crosswind, in :20.286 seconds, a 91 speed index.

Racing for owner TM Ranch and conditioned by AQHA Racing Champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr., Jls Dash N Fire won his first two starts at 2, including the $266,130 LQHBA Laddie Futurity(RG2) at Delta Downs. He was third in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2) last year and finished second in the Treme Stakes(RG3) at the Fair Grounds in August.

"We always had high hopes for him," Roberts said after the win. "Steve Holland has been a great owner for us."

Bred by JLS-Speedhorse Ranch, Inc., from the Osceola Warrior mare Psalmist, Jls Dash N Fire has compiled a (9) 3-2-1 record and today's $45,000 winners' purse boosted his lifetime mark to $206.890.

"Gelding him made a big difference. He was over anxious in his last race; charged the gate, which cost him. But today, he broke well and ran his race,” Roberts added.

Runner-up Ho Lotta Game races for owner Leonel Hernandez and trainer Eduardo Morales. Jockey Noe Castaneda had the riding call aboard the graded-placed Game Patriot gelding out of Ho Lotta Speed by Streakin La Jolla.

Winner of last year's Louisiana Million Juvenile Invitational, Ho Lotta Game picked up $17,000 to for today's effort. Robert Touchet and Darrel Williams bred the $70,520 earner.

Rogelio Leyva and Orlando Orozco's A Nother Zoobilee finished a nose back in the blanket finish to take third. Orozco also trains the Dashin Bye gelding out of Our Precious Secret by Streakin La Jolla. Bred by Charles Lyles, A Nother Zoobilee earned $10,000 to bring his earnings mark to $50,000.

Fastdashing Lassie, Eye Heart Blue, Little Debbie D. The Cazador, Second Down Leaving, A Canadian Chill, Jess Louisiana Boo and Dales Cartel completed the field.


Courtesy Ses