San Lorenzo Moon Shines Bright In LQHBA Sale Futurity At Delta Downs

San Lorenzo Moon (#6), under jockey David Alvarez, gets up over Cool Ya Jets (#4) and Everythingyouneed (2) in the $520,166 LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) at Delta Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Phtography

VINTON, LA–SEPTEMBER 3, 2022–Delta Downs hosted its final American Quarter Horse program for 2022 on Saturday night with a 10-race card featuring six stakes events.

The headliner was the $525,420 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale Futurity (RG1) which normally takes place at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. In 2022, the historic venue transferred its 15 live Quarter Horse race dates to Delta Downs.

The 350-yard LQHBA Sales Futurity was won by Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s San Lorenzo Moon, who dug in gamely over a muddy track to defeat Cool Ya Jets by a neck.

"It was a very tough final, but she showed her heart and we are so proud of San Lorenzo Moon," said Marquez.  "What gave me the most joy was knowing that she is Dashnunder Afullmoon's first foal and now her first futurity winner!"

It was another head back to third-place finisher Everythingyouneed, who came into the race as the fastest qualifier. San Lorenzo Moon, who is trained by Jesus Marquez, covered the distance in a time of :17.518 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 92.

San Lorenzo Moon was ridden to victory by jockey David Alvarez, who has been aboard for each of her six career starts including a second-place finish in the $311,000 Lassie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs in May. The $236,439 first-place prize in the Sale Futurity boosted her overall bankroll to $341,257.

The winning connections of San Lorenzo Moon accept the LQHBA Sale Futurity stakes trophy on Saturday at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography

Bred in Louisiana by her owner, San Lorenzo Moon is a brown filly by Apollitical Blood, out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Dashnunder Afullmoon, who won the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs in 2017 and earned over $711,000 during her illustrious career. San Lorenzo Moon was a $60,000 repurchase at last year’s LQHBA Yearling Sale.

"We had a big number in mind, maybe unrealistic, but as she was the first foal by Dashnunder Afullmoon, it would have taken a lot for us to let her go.  Plenty of people looked at this filly, but felt she was too small," Marquez says.

"She started the ride for me and my family," added Marquez. "We have been blessed to have so much success in racing, but would not be where we are now without Dashnunder Afullmoon."

Leading sire Apollitical Blood sire the winners of three of six stakes on the Delta race card tonight.

Runner-up Cool Ya Jets dueled late under jockey Ubaldo Luna to earn $89,322 for second. Champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. sent out the daughter of Jet Black Patriot for owner Pete Scarmardo.

A finalist in the Lassie Futurity (RG2) and second in the Louisiana Juvenile, Cool Ya Jets was a $23,500 repurchase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Bayou Stirling Equine LLC bred the sorrel filly from the Heza Fast Dash mare McM On Thin Ice. She has compiled a (6) 2-2-0 record and earned $122,136.

Everythingyouneed, a Jet Black Patriot colt who shipped in from New Mexico for the trials, finished a head back in the blanket-finish to earn $52,542 for third. A finalist in the West Texas Futurity(G2) and the Four Corners Futurity earlier this year the sorrel gelding races for owners Tony Sedillo and Absolute Refrigeration.

Also from the Kenneth Roberts barn, Everythingyouneed was ridden by champion jockey Ricky Ramirez. Lester Colomb, Jr. bred the Jet Black Patriot gelding from the Oak Tree Special mare Rogue To Riches. The $18,500 LQHBA Sale graduate has won three of seven starts and earned $80,564.

Sent to the gate at odds of 4-1 after posting the third fastest time in the trials, San Lorenzo Moon paid $10.20 to win, $5.40 to place and $3 to show. Cool Ya Jets returned $14.60 to place and $6.80 to show. Everythingyouneed was worth $2.40 to show.

Completing the order of finish were Onemorewildtrain, Oh Hez Fast, Flyingontheground, Pretty Piloto, Jess Sea and Ruse Splash Train.

Delta Downs will now prepare for its 2022-23 Thoroughbred season, which kicks off on October 5 and runs through February 25. The track will card live programs each Wednesday through Saturday evening starting at 4:55 pm.

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