Racing


Royal Aztec at the Wire for First Stakes Win in the Gentilly Dash
Royal Aztec with jockey Floriberto Maldonado aboard (yellow silks) gets a head in front to capture the Gentilly Dash Stakes at Fair Grounds.

© Hodges Photography
Royal Aztec at the Wire for First Stakes Win in the Gentilly Dash

NEW ORLEANS, LA—AUGUST 19, 2017— Royal Aztec sought his third consecutive win and his first stakes victory in the $25,000 Gentilly Dash at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and the 4-year-old gelding, with Floriberto Maldonado aboard, delivered.

Royal Aztec ($10.60) is rarely out of the money, having finished in the top three in 11 of his 16 career starts, with $105,000 in lifetime earnings for owner Luis Armando Castellanos. Castellanos also bred the gelding in Louisiana, by Zoomin For Bux, out of Eyes Wacky by A Royal Symphony.

Final time for Royal Aztec’s win in the 250-yard Gentilly Dash was 13.013, fast enough for a 98 speed index.

Royal Aztec led from start to finish, but post-time favorite Magic Black Jack made up ground throughout the race to come within a nose of the winner. Magic Black Jack and Everardo Rodriguez also earned a 98 speed index, with a time of 13.022. The 4-year-old son of Jet Black Patriot is trained by Martin Trejo for owner Ana Alvidrez.

Magic Black Jack was bred in Louisiana by Willie Salard, out of the Stoli mare Stoli Alikat. As a 2-year-old, Magic Black Jack qualified for the Mardi Gras Futurity (G2) in 2015 at Louisiana Downs and broke his maiden in the $300,502 final, his second lifetime start. As a 3-year-old, he competed in the Treme Derby (RG3) and won the Flying Breed Stakes as a 4-year-old at Delta.

Pyc First Prize Mia and jockey Santiago Mendez attempted to duel with the leaders before conceding for third place; Kenneth Weeks trains the 5-year-old mare for owner Lester Colomb, Jr.

Pyc First Prize Mia was bred in Louisiana by Weetona Stanley, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of First Prize Diamond, by Fly Jess Fly. At four, the mare notched four consecutive wins at Delta, including the Detla Dash and the Mothers Day Stakes.

Completing the field were Ardor, One Dimple and Fancy Mamacita. Wild Tycoon was scratched.