Racing


Follow My Wagon Wins Division 2 of Mr Jess Perry at Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Follow My Wagon (#3), under jockey Luis Vivanco, went wire-to-wire in the Mr Jess Perry StakesIRG3)-Div. 2 on Saturday at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Follow My Wagon Wins Division 2 of Mr Jess Perry at Harrah's Louisiana Downs

BOSSIER CITY, LA—FEBRUARY 15, 2020—Harrah's Louisiana Downs presented two divisions of the $25,000 Mr Jess Perry Stakes (RG3) on Saturday. In the second division, Follow My Wagon, triumphed in gate-to-wire fashion under Luis Vivanco/

This was the second win a row for the 4-year-old owned by Julio C. Rodriguez. The 4-year-old sired by Jls Party Wagon, out of the First Comment mare Come An Get Me, was the upset winner in the $137,020 Evangeline Downs Derby on December 14. He crossed the wire in :17.715 (speed index of 91), a neck ahead of Dlj Imma B Famous.

Leigh Perry presents the winning connections of Follow My Wagon the Mr Jess Perry Stakes trophy Saturday at Louisiana Downs. © Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Follow My Wagon ($9.20) was bred by Karen Darling Falgoust and was making his 18th lifetime start today. Claimed for $5,000, he has now won four races and upped his career bankroll to $135,045.

"We expected him to run a good race," said winning trainer Fernando Lopez. "He's matured nicely and had two months off since his stakes win at Evangeline."

Lopez, who has 14 horses in training, is also considering one more stakes this meet, but may hold off until Delta Downs.

Myron McKinnon's Dlj Imma B Famous, ran second under Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. as the even-money choice in the seven horse field. Eduardo Morales conditions the 7-year-old Coronas Leaving You gelding out of Yugo Buds by Strawflyin Buds. He has earned nearly $160,000. Donald Henderson is the breeder.

Game Overtime, 4-year-old son of Fast Prize Jordan, completed the trifecta for owner Rosendo Valez and trainer Ray Mayo. Rolando Del Rio Pina had the riding call on the sorrel gelding out of Good Game Meg by Game Patriot. Daniel Trahan bred the earner of $61,752.

Completing the field were Rf Fast Dash N Blue, Ll Tee Boug, My Favorite Blue and Little Toy Guns.

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Mr Jess Perry, the acclaimed racehorse and stallion passed away in November 2017 at the age of 25. Bred by Jesse Perry, the father of noted Louisiana breeder and LQHBA Executive Director Emeritus Leverne Perry, Mr Jess Perry was voted 1994 AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year-Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, winning 12 of his 21 career starts, including the 1994 LQHBA Breeders Futurity. He became one of the state's top stallions, with graded stakes winning progeny including Apollitical Jess, One Famous Eagle, Noconi, Matabari, Miss Racy Jess, and Fredricksburg.

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About Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000-square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.