News - Racing March  28, 2024

Tdz Jet Black Down Wins A Thrilling Louisiana Laddie Futurity At Delta Downs


Tdz Jet Black Down, under veteran jockey John Hamilton, winning the $369,405 Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—MAY 18, 2019—Delta Downs closed out its race week on Saturday night with a pair of stakes races highlighted by the $369,405 Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2), which was won in dramatic fashion by Tony Doughtie's Tdz Jet Black Down under jockey John Hamilton.

Tdz Jet Black Down, who is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., came into the final of the Laddie Futurity off a winning performance in his trial, which he won by two lengths with the sixth fastest qualifying time out of 17 trial heats.

In the final, he defeated the fastest qualifier Ed O by a head and covered 330 yards in a time of 16.691 seconds, which earned him a speed index of 96. Rf Apolliticalcookie wound up third, another neck behind the runner-up.

"It takes a lot of hard work to get this far," said Roberts. "I thank Tony and his wife for giving me the opportunity to work with such good horses."

The win by Tdz Jet Black Down was the second of this three-race career and the $184,703 first place prize raised his overall bankroll to $192,593.

Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Tdz Jet Black Down is a 2-year-old bay gelding by Jet Black Patriot, out of the Toast to Dash mare Miss Barton County. He was a $10,000 buyback at the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale in 2017.

The winning connections of Tdz Jet Black Down accept the Louisiana Laddie Futurity(RG2) stakes trophy Saturday night at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography
"I knew the first time I worked him that he was special," Hamilton said after the race. "Tonight I was hoping to be a little further in front, but he got the job done.”

Runner-up Ed O was a $4,700 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase. Trainer Jose Lopez conditions the son of multiple stakes sire Mr Piloto for owner Edward Lopez. Anthony Gaspard and E.A. Landry Jr. bred the sorrel gelding from the Heza Fast Dash mare Shezadashinatcha. Ed O earned $$62,799 to boost his career mark to just under $70,000. Noe Villatoro had the riding call.

Rf Apolliticalcookie races for owner David Gutierrez and trainer Josue Ponce. Jesse Lee Levario rode the 2-year-old gelding by first-crop sire Apollitical Blood from the Separatist mare One Famous Cookie.

Bred by Rogers Farms, Tim and Jennie Rogers, Rf Apollitical Cooke sold for $5,700 in the LQHBA Yearling Sale last August. He earned $36,941 in his Laddie Futurity effort.

Train Of Diamonds, Jess Redwhiteandblue, Love The Way You Fly, Candy Coated Rogue, Blueacrossyourmind, Jrs Sir Pop A Top and Jj Jess An Meteorite completed the field.

Sent to the gate at odds of 7-2, Tdz Jet Black Down paid $9.20 to win.

Delta Downs will begin its sixth week of American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night with another 10-race program that begins at 6:15 pm CST.

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For more information about the new season visit the track's website at deltadownsracing.com.

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