Racing


Not Perry Pretty Tallies A Gorgeous Win In The $318,120 Firecracker Futurity
Not Pretty Perry, under jockey David Alvarez, winning the Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity at Delta Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Photography
Not Perry Pretty Tallies A Gorgeous Win In The $318,120 Firecracker Futurity

VINTON, LA—JULY 4, 2015— Delta Downs hosted the $318,120 Firecracker Futurity (G2) on Saturday night as part of a special Independence Day program and it was Kaitlen V. Emfinger’s Not Perry Pretty who came away victorious under jockey David Alvarez.

The win was the fourth of Not Perry Pretty’s undefeated career and she has now been won two futurities. Her first stakes win came on May 22 when she took the $87,225 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs.

After breaking cleanly from post position seven in the 350-yard feature Saturday night, Not Perry Pretty battled for the lead with Moonflash Garden and Tac It Sassy. As the field of 10 approached the finish line Alvarez got his mount to the lead before hanging on for the win over First Fancy Prize and race favorite Ivan James, who wound up ¾ of a length and a head behind in second and third place respectively.

Not Perry Pretty, who is trained by Lanny Keith, covered the 350 yards of the Firecracker Futurity over a fast track in 17.366 second. That time equaled a speed index of 95.

The winner’s paycheck of $159,060 raised Not Perry Pretty’s bankroll to $211,072. All of her earnings have come at Delta Downs during the current season, which began on April 22.

Not Perry Pretty is a 2-year-old sorrel filly by Dash Ta Fame, out of the Special Leader mare Tf Ms Special Perry, who also won the Firecracker Futurity back in 2009. Steve Tate bred Not Perry Pretty in Louisiana.

The winning connections of Not Pretty Perry accept the Firecracker Futurity stakes trophy on Saturday night at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography
Michael Taylor saddled First Fancy Prize for owners Monica and Scott Jones and Raymond Loup. Bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley and William Smith, the daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon picked up $54,081 to boost her earnings total to $67,119. Ridden by John Hamilton she has won two of three career starts. She is a full sister to last year's Remington Park Futurity(RG3) winner Im A Fancy Pyc.

Grade 2 winner Ivan James races for owner/breeder Jorge Meraz and trainer Rodolfo Sanchez. Ridden by Raul Ramirez, Jr., the Ivory James colt earned $31,812 for his third place effort. Winner of the Sam Houston Futurity in April, Ivan James has earned $283,452. He is out of the Dashin Bye mare First Dashin Bye.

Moonflash Garden, A Kool Secret, Tac It Sassy, Paint Me A Storm, Real Solid Oak, Jess An Angel and Sistarouge completed the field.

Sent to the gate at odds of 6-1, Not Perry Pretty paid $14.40 to win, $5.80 to place and $3.40 to show. First Fancy Prize was worth $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Ivan James returned $2.20 to show.

Delta Downs will close out its current season next week with live racing on Wednesday through Saturday starting at 6:15 pm CT. The closing night program on July 11 will include eight stakes races for Louisiana Bred horses highlighted by the $634,530 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1).

For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.