News - Racing March  29, 2024

Hezaa Fast Boy Wins The $25,000 Mr Jess Perry (RG3) At Louisiana Downs


Hezaa Fast Boy (inside) gets up over Dianetoseparatefromu (#9) in the $20,000 Mr Jess Perry Stakes Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA –FEBRUARY 11, 2023–The well-tested group of Louisiana-breds competed in the first stakes of the 2023 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse meet, the $25,000 Mr Jess Perry (RG3).

The winner of the 350-yard dash for 4-year-olds and up was Rogelio Marquez Jr.'s Hezaa Fast Boy. The 6-year-old son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash broke from the rail under jockey Rolando Cabrera.

He gained momentum in the first strides and held off a determined charge from Dianetoseparatefromu, to win by a head. He earned a speed index of 104, in a final time of :17.494 seconds over a muddy track.  Simmons Racing bred Hezaa Fast Boy from Brenda Beautiful, a champion daughter of former leading sire Feature Mr Jess.

Owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. and his father were on hand for the trophy presentation and were pleased with their charge winning his fourth career stakes.

The winning connections of Hezaa Fast Boy accept the Mr Jess Perry Stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Louisiana Downs. © Ann Switalski Photography

"This horse sometimes struggles to get going, but he finished well today," said Marquez. "The older horses sometimes need a little more time between their races. He won the Opelousas (at Evangeline Downs), and we were looking forward to a good finish in the Louisiana Day Classic, but it just wasn't his day. My uncle (trainer Jesus Marquez) was a little worried about him breaking from the rail today, but he handled it fine."

Sent off as the second-betting choice, Hezaa Fast Boy returned $7.60  to win. This was the seventh lifetime victory in 18 starts for Hezaa Fast Boy with today's $15,000 winner's check, his earnings stand at $177,900.

Dianetoseparatefromu, a 4-year-old son of champion Inseparable, rallied from his outside post with Eleazar Hernandez in the saddle. Owned by Angel Juarez Corona and trained by Leonel Hernandez, the bay gelding earned $5,000 for his runner-up finish. 

Eddie Crammer and Tom and Bill Maher bred the bay gelding from the Corona Cartel mare Coronas Concierge. Dianetoseparatefromu's earnings total has reached $86,344.  Today's start was the gelding's first since finishing sixth in the LQHBA Breeders' Derby(RG3) on December 17.

Jockey Benito Baca guided CW Fasttrack to complete the trifecta. He picked up $2,750 for third. Gregory Williams saddled the daughter Mr Ease Cartel from owner Ocie Lee Charles, Jr. Benito Baca had the riding call aboard the 4-year-old multiple stakes-placed filly from the Heza Fast Dash mare Bt Sheza Baby Spoon. Cecil H Walker is the breeder.

Tf Jess Me, One Fast Perry, Jj Heza Fast Dash Jr, Denalia Sweet Jess and Go Rhonda Go completed the field.  Rf Fast Dash N Jess was scratched.

The race began with troubled trips from two horses with the post-time favorite  Denalia Sweet Jess rearing up and finishing seventh and Go Rhonda Go leaving without his rider, Gilbert Ortiz. RF Fast Dash N Jess was an early scratch.

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The stakes is named in honor of Mr Jess Perry, the acclaimed racehorse and stallion who passed away in November, 2017 at the age of 25. Bred by Jesse Perry, the father of noted Louisiana breeder and LQHBA Executive Director Emeritus Leverne Perry, Mr Jess Perry was voted 1994 AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year-Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, winning 12 of his 21 career starts, including the 1994 LQHBA Breeders Futurity.

Mr Jess Perry ranks third as a sire of All Time Money earners nationally and is one of Louisiana's top stallions, with acclaimed progeny including Apollitical Jess, One Famous Eagle, Noconi, Matabari, Miss Racy Jess, and Mr Piloto.  In 2019, Mr Jess Perry was inducted into the AQHA and LQHBA Hall of Fame.

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Remaining Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse Stakes schedule:

March 24
$25,000 Billy Montgomery 4YO&up F&M LA-bred 330 YDS
$20,000-added LAD Maiden Classic 3YO& up 350 YDS

March 25
$100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) 2YO LA-Bred 300 YDS
$50,000-added Mardi Gras Derby 3YO LA-Bred 400 YDS
$50,000-added Mardi Gras Oaks 3YO F LA-Bred 400 YDS
$75,000-added Louisiana Downs Futurity(RG2) 2 YO 300 YDS

April 1
$25,000 Lip Chip LLC 3YO & up 400 YDS
$15,000-A. LA Starter Series Dash 3YO & up 110 YDS

2022 Quarter Horse Trial Dates
March 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity
March 3 & 4 Mardi Gras Futurity
March 10 Louisiana Downs Maiden Classic
March 11 Mardi Gras Derby
March 11 Mardi Gras Oaks
March 18 Louisiana Downs Starter Series Dash

 


Courtesy Ses