News - Racing March  29, 2024

Heza Dash Faster Awarded Win After Louisiana Dressblues Was Disqualified In The Virgil Bond Stakes


Heza Dash Faster (#2) battles Louisiana Dressblues (#1) to the wire in the $25,000 Virgil Bond Stakes Friday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—MAY 31, 2019—Delta Downs hosted the $40,000 Virgil Bond Stakes on Friday night and the race ended with more drama than a Hollywood movie as Jose Carlos Hernandez’s Heza Dash Faster was awarded the win after finishing second to Louisiana Dressblues by just a nose.

Louisiana Dressblues and Heza Dash Faster, who broke from post positions one and two respectively, dueled for much of the 870-yard race and were bobbing heads at the finish.

Although Louisiana Dressblues, who was ridden by Donell Blake, got the narrow advantage in the end he was disqualified and placed second behind Heza Dash Faster, who was piloted by Luis Vivanco, for interfering with him at the top of the homestretch.

Finishing third in the thriller was Jw Who Dat, who wound up seven lengths behind the top pair.

The final time in this year’s Virgil Bond was :46.144 over a fast and sealed racetrack. That time equaled a speed index of 93.

Heza Dash Faster is trained by Eliseo Celestino and he is a 4-year-old bay gelding by Heza Fast Dash, out of the El Prado (TB) mare My Elle Prada (TB). He was bred in Louisiana by Easy Acres Performance Horses.

Multiple stakes-placed Louisiana Dressblues races for woner Wilson One Consulting LLC and trainer Trey Ellis. Also bred by Easy Acres Performance Horses, the chestnut son of Jess Louisiana Blue is from the Meadowlake (TB) mare Charlomaine (TB). He picked up $8,000 to boost his bankroll to $88,760.

Multiple stakes winner Jw Who Dat earned $4,400 for owner Giovanni Barron. Antonio Alberto rode the 7-year-old Agouti gelding for trainer Alejandra Garza. J.W. Owens bred Jw Who Dat from the Heza Fast Man mare Ew Comment. He has earned nearly $147,000.

Sent to the gate at odds of 6-1, Heza Dash Faster paid $14.60 to win, $4.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Louisiana Dressblues returned $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Jw Who Dat was worth $2.10 to show.

Rakin In The Jax, Eton and Zoomins Jewel completed the Virgil Bond field. Dashing With Courage and Jes A Spitfire were scratched.

Delta Downs will close out its seventh week of American Quarter Horse racing on Saturday night with another 10-race program at starts at 6:15 pm. The featured will be the $25,000 Develop a Plan (G3).

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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