Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeder Association

News - Racing April 26, 2024

Sunkissed Jess Sets Fastest Time In Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity Trials at Delta Downs

Sunkissed Jess (#3) and Rc Relentless Grace (inside) battle to the top two qualifying times for the Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity Tuesday afternoon at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—JUNE 19, 2021—Ruse Ranch LLC's Sunkissed Jess posted the fastest qualifying time on Tuesday at Delta Downs from five trials contested for this year’s $296,745 Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the Louisiana racetrack on Monday, July 19th to vie for the winners' share of the Firecracker Futurity purse at a distance of 350 yards.

Under jockey Nestor Duran, Sunkissed Jess dueled to a neck win over Rc Relentless Grace in the third trial to post the fastest time of :17.606 seconds, a 90 speed index with an 8 mph tailwind. It was the first win the daughter of a leading third-crop sire Kiss My Hocks. She entered the Firecracker trials off a second-place effort in her career debut, a trial for the Sam Houston Futurity May 8th.

Erika Huitron conditions the $32,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate for owner Ruse Ranch LLC. Darian Burt bred Sunkissed Jess in Utah from the Shazoom mare Jess A Swingin. She has earned $6,000.

The aforementioned Rc Relentless Grace held on for the second fastest time of :17.662 for owner TYKHE Racing LLC. Trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. named Victor Urieta, Jr. to ride the daughter of leading sire Hes Relentless from the First Down Dash mare Le Mishka.

Third in the Sam Houston Juvenile in her last start, Rc Relentless Grace was bred in Texas by Vista Equine Colorado, LLC. Winless in four starts she has banked $17,004 this year.

Ruse Ranch LLC, Huitron and Duran also teamed to qualify Lethal Code, a son of world champion sire FDD Dynasty, with the third fastest time of :17.729 seconds. The $30,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate was a half-length winner over Jess Call Me Jess in the fourth trial.

It was the first win in three starts for the Oklahoma-bred gelding out of Lethal Perry by Mr Jess Perry. JJ Cool L LLC is the breeder.

Each of the Firecracker trials carried a purse of $6,000.

The 10th and final qualifier, Lucky Dice, won a shake to get into the final after dead heating for the win with Apollitical Crystal in the fifth trial of the day. Each horse had a running time of 17.838 seconds.

For the complete list of Firecracker Futurity(G2) qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Delta Downs will continue with its eighth week of American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday and Thursday with nine-race programs each day that begin at 3 pm.(CDT).

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

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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.

LQHBA is the official authorized representative of the American Quarter Horse racing and breeding industry in Louisiana, the unified voice of quarter Horse breedings in the State of Louisiana for purposes of communicatting the advantages and rewards of breeding Quarter Horses in the State and for the purposes of a conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing agencies.