News - Racing March  28, 2024

Just Call Me Jess Sets The Fastest Time For The Firecracker Derby At Delta Downs


Just Call Me Jess, under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr., setting the fastest qualifying time for the $177,045 Firecracker Derby(G3) Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–JUNE 18, 2022— Delta Downs played host to a trio of qualifying trials for this year’s $177,045 Firecracker Derby(G3).

The fastest qualifier for the July 8 final was Lee and Tara Blackwell and Joel Tipton’s Just Call Me Jess, who won the first trial of the night under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. Overall, Garcia won four of the eight races on the card and qualified two finalists for the big race.

Just Call Me Jess bobbled at the start of his 400-yard trial but recovered quickly to surge to the lead and win by one length. The Juan Cano trainee covered the distance over a fast track in a time of :19.950 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 88.

Just Call Me Jess was making the seventh start of his career and has now won two of them and finished second twice. He took home $3,000 for his trial win and has now made a total of $37,722.

Bred in Oklahoma by Delfino Lozano, IV, Just Call Me Jess is a 3-year-old sorrel gelding by One Sweet Jess, out of the Strawfly Special mare Justiflied.

Gene Cox's South Carolina homebred Cottonpickintrain a nose winner in the opening trial to get the second fastest qualifying time of :20.045 seconds.  Juan Cano conditions the lightly raced son of world champion sire Freighttrain B.

Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess A Dreamgirl, Cottonpickintrain may two starts at two including qualifying for the Old South Futurity at Delta Downs. Juan Garcia, Jr. had the riding call.

For a complete list of Firecracker Derby(G3) qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Delta Downs will conduct its ninth week of Quarter Horse racing next Wednesday through Saturday. First post time each evening will be at 6:15 pm. The week will include the Vals Fortune/Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes race on Wednesday, trials for this year’s Delta Downs Derby on Thursday, and trails for the season’s richest race, the Lee Berwick Futurity, on Friday and Saturday nights.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

About Delta Downs
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