Preview Racing


Six Distance Specialists Entered in Delta’s Virgil Bond Stakes
Gary Aber’s Desire Astoli is entered in Saturday’s 870-yard, $25,000 Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Six Distance Specialists Entered in Delta’s Virgil Bond Stakes

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA—JULY 14, 2020—Six distance specialists, headed by Gary Aber’s Desire Astoli, are entered in Saturday’s 870-yard, $25,000 Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs.

A homebred 5-year-old daughter of Desirio trained by Kenny Roberts, Desire Astoli has won nine of 21 starts, including two of three at the 870 trip, and has earned $112,570. The mare’s 2019 campaign included a wire-to-wire, four-length victory in the 870-yard, $25,000 Fauborg St John Stakes at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.

Desire Astoli has won four of her five outs at Delta Downs. The mare drew post 2 and will be ridden by Donald Watson.

Roberts will also send out stakes winner Jessi Jam for owner Mo Racing. A 4-year-old Jet Black Patriot mare, Jessi Jam is coming off of a victory in the 870-yard, $50,000 Live Oak Stakes (R) for Louisiana-breds on July 6.

Jessi Jam drew post 6 and will be ridden by Randy Edison.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Jess Louisiana Boo (Luciano Duenez)
  2. Desire Astoli (Donald Watson)
  3. Heza Dash Faster (David Alvarez)
  4. Louisiana Dressblues (Juan F. Garcia Jr.)
  5. Im Mighty Fast (Ubaldo Luna)
  6. Jessi Jam (Randy Edison)

The Virgil Bond Stakes, and all Delta Downs races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.