Page 186 - September 2020

RACING NEWS
Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3
LIFEINTHEFASTLANES
by Michael Compton
Lifeinthefastlanes has certainly lived her 2020 season in the fast lane. Once she hits the front in her races, the precocious filly
turns the track into a no passing zone for her rivals.
Undefeated now in her four starts
this season, Lifeinthefastlanes ran to her favoritism in the $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby on Aug. 22. With
her regular rider David Alvarez in the
irons, Lifeinthefastlanes flashed speed at
the start, surging to a 1-length lead away from the gate in the 400-yard contest. She maintained a clear advantage through the lane and held at bay a strong late rally from Special Politico to score by a head at the wire. In winning for the fourth consecutive time, Lifeinthefastlanes stopped the timer in :19.533, earning a 97 speed index for owners Jason Richards and Michael Leblanc and trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr.
“I told people right from the start that this is the fastest filly we have ever had,” co- owner Richards told the media after the win. “She was a little goofy as a two year old. We
had some trouble in the gates, but Kenny has spent a lot of time with her. Kenny has figured out a way and it’s made all the dif- ference in the world.”
The $138,413 winner’s
share of the purse more
than doubled the bankroll
of Lifeinthefastlanes to
$264,006 and improved her
overall record to 8-6(2)-0-
1(1). The brown filly scored
her first stakes victory two
starts back, taking the
Vinton Stakes by 3/4-length
over a sloppy track at Delta
Downs. Last year at two,
she finished third in the
Lassie Futurity-RG2 in just
her second lifetime start
and was a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-RG1. She broke through the gate prior to the start in the Louisiana Million and then was off slowly, contribut- ing to a 10th-place finish and the only off- the-board result of her career.
Bred in Louisiana by Kay and Wade Loup Jr., Lifeinthefastlanes is produced from the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed
Panther Mountain mare Pantherinthefastlane. All told, Pantherinthefastlane won six of 20 career starts and banked $163,973 for Kay and Wade Loup Jr.
Her stakes wins came in
the 2011 Treme Derby at Fair Grounds and in the 2012 Flashy Hemp Stakes at Delta Downs. In addition, she finished third in the 2011 Louisiana Champions Day Derby-RG2 at Fair Grounds, third in the Vinton Stakes-RG3, and
third in the Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG2.
“She’s just one of those horses you have to spend a lot of time with,” Roberts said. “I have super owners who believe in me. They let me guide them.”
Delta Downs $276,825 • 400 yards :19.533 • si 97
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
LIFEINTHEFASTLANES, ‘17-f.
Panther Mountain
Pantherinthefastlane
Sheza Neon Rose
184 SPEEDHORSE September 2020
Lifeinthefastlanes and jockey David Alvarez win the $276,825 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3.
Coady Photography