Page 181 - Speedhorse August 2018
P. 181
Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby
FEATURING FAST JESS
by Michael Compton
Fernando Ramos’ Featuring Fast Jess increased her win streak to three this year at Delta Downs, notching his second stakes victory at
the track when he scored a decisive victory in the $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby on July 7.
Piloted by Noe Castaneda, Featuring Fast Jess raced in fourth position during the early stages of the 400-yard event, chasing JRS Taylor Runnaway who shot to the front after the break. Featuring Fast Jess quickly hit his best stride, collaring the speedy JRS Taylors Runnaway in the lane. He dismissed that rival and then fended off Shesa Diamond Diva and jockey Eddie Sanchez approaching the wire to win by 3/4-length at the finish.
Featuring Fast Jess covered the distance in :19.514. His winning time earned a 99 speed index for the Eduardo Morales trainee.
“I know this horse well in addition to riding in races,” Castaneda shared after the win. “I have spent a lot of time working him in the mornings. He’s well-bred and learns quickly. It’s the little things that have made a big difference.”
Following the victory, Morales indicated that Feature Fast Jess would likely be pointed to the Fair Grounds over the summer and the Louisiana Champions Day in December.
Now a winner in six of 13 career starts, Featuring Fast Jess boasts a lifetime bankroll of $249,425. It was the sec- ond stakes victory for the sor- rel gelding, who also annexed this year’s Vinton Stakes at Delta Downs and finished second in the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs in his only defeat of the season. Last year, he was a finalist
in the LQHBA Louisiana
Million Futurity-RG1 where he reported home in fifth. Featuring Fast Jess captured his June 15 Delta Downs Louisians Bred Derby trial heat by a 1/2-length over JRS Taylor Runnaway for the second-fastest qualifying time.
Jumonville Farms/Burnett Ranch bred Featuring Fast Jess out of 3-time winner Featuringmissjess. An earner of $27,192, Featuringmissjess qualified to the 2009 Texas Distaff Challenge-G3 where she finished fifth. She is the dam of two winners from three start- ers. Featuring Fast Jess is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Race favorite Shesa Diamond Diva (Struttin To Beduino-Sheza Fortune) was second for owner Crown Horse Racing LLC
and trainer Jose Sanchez
III, The gray filly, who was vanned off after the race,
has only finished worse than second once in her career,
a 4th-place effort in last year’s Mardi Gras Futurity
at Louisiana Downs. She was the fastest qualifier for this race, having won her trial dash in :19.546.
Second Down Leaving (Coronas Leaving You- Second Down Perry) and jockey Manuel
Gutierrez rallied gamely late to finish third
for owners Eulalio Argote & Victor Alvarado and trainer Robert Meche. The multiple stakes winner finished second to Shesa Diamond Diva in his trial heat.
JRS Taylor Runnaway (Sir Runaway Dash-No Matches Tonight), The Cazador (Sir Runaway Dash-Told Ya), Heza Jess Cuervo (Jess Cuervo-Sheza Jess Love), Fabulously Black (Game Patriot-Fabulously Fast), Ima Gone Reba (Game Patriot-Rebas in the House), Lil Biscuit (Heza Fast Dash-Biscuit Eater TB) and Cant Catchacorona (Coronas Leaving You-In the Open) completed the order of finish.
Delta Downs $268,655 400 yards :19.514 si 99
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
FEATURING FAST JESS, ‘15-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Featuringmissjess
Brenda Feature
Featuring Fast Jess & Noe Castaneda win the $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby
SPEEDHORSE, August 2018 179
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
