Page 173 - March_2023

Delight Interest’s winning connections include owner Triple Five, trainer Josue Ponce and jockey Manuel Gutierrez.
Retama Derby Challenge. She has produced six winners from eight starters. Delight Interest is a half-sister to One Eagles Delight, who finished second in the Rainbow Juvenile and One Slick Delight, who was third in the Evangeline Downs Derby.
“This guy just keeps getting better. He
was a $30,000 purchase at the Heritage Place sale,” said trainer Josue Ponce. “He’s an easy keeper and a professional around the barn area and on the track. Sometimes he doesn’t break real hard,” he continued. “He’s not a problem in the gate but he’s just now learning how
to break sharp. The trial heat was probably the best race he has run. After he got rolling, he put over 2-lengths on the field to set the fastest qualifying time. In the finals, he got away good and showed a steady effort. He pulled up good and we are looking towards the Delta Downs Firecracker Derby.”
Leviton (Jess Good Candy-PYC First Prize Mia) set the second fastest time in the trials. In the finals, the colt ran true to form banking the second place check under Sergio Becerra Jr. for owner AA Farms, LLC and trainer Eric Valenzuela. The colt has won or placed in four of his five starts.
Fifth fastest qualifier Docs Stoli RME (Docs Best Card-Bv Second To None) improved his position in the finals by finishing third under Jose Ortiz. The colt is owned by Ricardo Morales and trained by Salvador R. Soto. Docs Stoli RME has also won or placed in four of his five starts.
KJ Wicked Wanda (Apollitical Spirit-KJ Hotflash), Viper Driver (KVN Corona-Ms Fast First Prize), A Candy Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Jess Faith In Candy), Doing Something Good (Big Daddy Cartel-Start Something Bad), One
Good Corona (KVN Corona-Eyesa Good One), One Fearless Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Love Samba) and Fireside Chat (Favorite Cartel-Babe On Fire) completed the order of finish. Converjenz and Leadgend were scratched.
Delight Interest and jockey Manuel Gutierrez in the post parade before their victory.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE March 2023 171
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