Page 184 - September 2020

RACING NEWS
Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1
SAN LORENZO
by Tracy Gantz
Jim and Dr. Natalie Montgomery had an excellent night at Delta Downs on Aug. 22 as breeders. They bred San Lorenzo, winner of the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1, as well as He B Swift, winner of the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes.
It was also a good night for Chris and Kim Blanchet. Their Blanchet Farms offered both yearlings for sale for the Montgomerys at the 2019 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale. He B Swift sold for $16,000, while San Lorenzo was a $68,000 repurchase.
Rogelio Marquez Jr. was the underbidder at the sale on San Lorenzo, who was cataloged to the sale under the name Coronas In The Open. After the sale, Marquez arranged to purchase the youngster privately, and he later changed the bay colt’s name.
“We are from Zacatecas, Mexico,” said Marquez. “The city where we are from is San Lorenzo. So, we name our horses to honor where we are from.”
It is a family operation. Rogelio’s uncle, Jesus, trains San Lorenzo. Together, they
qualified two to the Lee Berwick, San Lorenzo and San Lorenzo Flash.
San Lorenzo began his racing career in June at Delta Downs. He won his trial
for the Laddie Futurity-G2
and ran fifth in the final after
breaking inwardly.
For the first time in his- tory, Delta Downs split the Lee Berwick trials into two nights, and San Lorenzo qualified the fastest on the second night. Only Ought To Go Tee qualified faster, on the first night of trials, and that horse was scratched from the final.
The Lee Berwick final
offered a purse of $1,025,782, making it the richest race ever contested in the state of Louisiana, regardless of breed.
David Alvarez has been aboard San Lorenzo in all of his starts, and he was back for the final.
When the gate opened, San Lorenzo came in slightly and a couple of horses to his inside came out, making quarters a little tight. But
San Lorenzo overcame that with ease, going to the front and winning decisively by a 1/2-length in :17.331, posting a 97 speed index.
The incident at the start, however, prompted Jaime Ramiro, trainer of sixth-place Neutral B, to lodge an objec- tion against second-place
TF Runaway Dashin. The stewards ruled no change.
Alvarez was winning his fourth race of the night. He earlier captured the
Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby with Lifeinthefastlanes. The card had eight stakes as part of Louisiana Showcase Night.
Owner Rogelio Marquez Jr. was thrilled with San Lorenzo’s performance.
Delta Downs $1,025,782 • 350 yards :17.331 • si 97
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
SAN LORENZO, ‘18-c.
Mr Eye Opener
In The Open
Ocean Memories
182 SPEEDHORSE September 2020
San Lorenzo and David Alvarez win the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 by 1/2-length.
Coady Photography