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fourth-fastest time. Pulido now has two wins and a second on the gelding. “He’s an easy horse to ride, tries every time,” said Pulido. “He ran a good race in the trial, but came out sharp tonight, breaking next to a very good horse. They hooked up together and it was an amazing finish.”
While Delight Interest began his career in his native Oklahoma, he has also competed in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Texas. He ran second in the 2022 EVD Futurity-G3
at Evangeline Downs and hasn’t lost since, stringing together four consecutive victories that includes the Feb. 25 West Texas Derby-G3 at Sunland Park. Juan Diaz Jr. trained him for the Sam Houston Derby trial and finals.
“He is a delight,” said Vanessa Leon after the race. “We are all excited, as we have been involved in racing for 15 years. Each of the owners are involved in choosing our horses.”
Eduardo Leon gets credit for picking out Delight Interest, having purchased him at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Eduardo successfully bid $30,000 for Delight Interest, buying him from the Robicheaux Ranch consignment.
George Mitchell bred Delight Interest
by crossing the stakes-placed mare Volcoms Delight with Seperate Interest. The sire stands at Burns Ranch in Menifee, California, and spent his racing career almost exclusively at Los Alamitos where he won three stakes and was the California Hi-Point Aged Stallion of 2014.
Volcoms Delight spent part of her racing career at Los Alamitos in 2014 as well, but raced
primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. She won four of 14 races and finished second in the 2014 Retama Derby Challenge. Volcoms Delight
has produced six winners from eight starters, including One Eagles Delight who ran second in the 2020 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes, and One Slick Delight who finished third in the 2021 Evangeline Downs Derby. Volcoms Delight’s 2021 son Relentless Eagle sold for $100,000 at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Delight Interest’s second dam, Lethal Delight, won the 2009 Shue Fly Stakes-RG1 and earned $453,701. Lethal Delight’s foals include
a full brother to Volcoms Delight, JM Miracle, who won the 2014 All American Futurity-G1. Lethal Express, another full brother, captured the 2014 Ruidoso Juvenile. Lethal Lil, a daughter of Lethal Delight by Corona Cartel, won the 2019 Mr Jess Perry Stakes.
Jess Good Wine (Good Reason SA-Mr Perrys Wine), ridden by Bryan Candanosa, trained by Toby Keeton, and owned by Guns Up Racing, finished second. The gelding also ran second in the 2022 Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge-G3.
Francisco Mendez piloted Lil Perry Wagon (Lil Kool Wagon-KT Perry) to third for his father, trainer Frank Mendez. Ubaldo Fuentes Jr. owns the gelding, who ran second in his trial after racing twice as a two-year-old.
Completing the field were Apollitical Dynamite (Apollitical Jess-Runawayheart), Tic It To The Dance (Mr Jess Perry-Double Down Darling), Daddy Caliente (Big Daddy Cartel-Valiant Flame), Passage Of A Woman (This Cartel Is Cold-Mountain Woman),
Eagle Powers (This Is An Eagle-DF Girly Girl), Sygnyfycant Impact (Ivory James-Jess Significant), and TDZ Jambalaya Wave (Louisiana Jambalaya-Wave Azigobye).
Delight Interest’s winning connections include owner Triple Five, trainer Juan Diaz Jr. and jockey Juan Pulido.
RACING NEWS
Delight Interest and Juan Pulido on their way to victory.
SPEEDHORSE June 2023 169
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