Jess Pretty In Black, under jockey Luis Vivanco, setting the fastest qualifying time for the restricted Grade 2

© Hodges Photography

VINTON, LA–MAY 1, 2024–Delta Downs hosted a special 12-race program on Wednesday night. Each race served as a qualifying heat for this year’s $291,125 Lassie Futurity (RG2).

The 10 fastest fillies from the trials will compete in the final, which will be run on Friday, May 24.

The fastest qualifier for the Lassie came out of the second race as Eleazar Martinez, Sr.’s Jess Pretty N Black ($7.60) posted a winning time of 16.812 seconds for 330 yards.

The win came after she finished third in her career debut at Louisiana Downs in the Mardi Gras Futurity trials on March 9. Her running time in the Lassie trials equaled a speed index of 92.

Jockey Luis Vivanco has ridden Jess Pretty N Black in both of her career starts. She earned $6,000 for her win on Wednesday. She will shoot for a winning paycheck of $145,562 in the Lassie Final. Each Lassie trial carried a purse of $10,000 for the Louisiana-bred runners.

Bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms, LLC, Jess Pretty N Black is a 2-year-old black filly by champion sire The Louisiana Cartel, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Pretty In Black. She was purchased for $33,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale.

Champion sire Apollitical Blood and first-crop sire Gold Heart Eagle V sired two qualifiers each. First-crop sire American Hussle got a finalist.

For a complete list of Lassie Futurity finalists with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Delta Downs will continue its second week of live Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night with an eight-race program that kicks off at 6:15 pm (CDT).

About Delta Downs
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named "America’s Best Horse Racing Track" by readers of USA TODAY 10 Best, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space, and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center, and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.