Konnan Cartel rallies late under Victor Urieta Jr. to win the $40,000 Titanium Stakes at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

BOSSIER, LA–APRIL 24, 2026– Konnan Cartel surged late to capture the $40,000 Titanium Stakes for Louisiana-breds at Delta Downs, earning the winner’s share of $24,000 with a strong finishing effort over 300 yards.

Under jockey Victor Urieta Jr., Konnan Cartel overcame a less-than-perfect start and rallied to the lead, stopping the clock in :15.301 seconds while posting a 96 speed index. The brown gelding, bred by Luis Armando Castellanos and owned by Dania Castellanos, is trained by Santiago Villaseca.

The winning connections of Konnan Cartel accept the $40,000 Titanium Stakes trophy at Delta Downs on Saturday. © Hodges Photography

A seasoned stakes competitor, Konnan Cartel is sired by graded stakes winner Five Bar Cartel, a sire of more than $12.6 million in progeny earnings, and is out of the Jet Black Patriot mare Jet Black Chiraq, a stakes performer and finalist in the De Saix Stakes.

His resume includes victories in the Eastex Stakes (G2), Dash For Cash Derby (G2), Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby (G3) and the Nag Nest Stakes. He now boasts a record of 30-13-4-2 with earnings of $471,105.

Usxpress closed strongly to finish second, just a half-length behind the winner. A $19,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, the filly is sired by Heza Fast Rogue and out of the Corona Cartel mare EC Prairie Mist, a half-sister to stakes winners Ferrari James ($350,679), The Prize Ferarri ($160,183) and Ferarri B ($62,532).

She now holds a record of 10-3-4-1 with earnings of $51,335 and entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the Mardi Gras Oaks. She was also a finalist in last year’s LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational.

Race favorite Jessapilottrain finished third after pressing the pace early, holding on late to complete the trifecta. The gelding is sired by world champion sire Freighttrain B and is out of a full sister to All American Futurity (G1) winner Mr Piloto ($1,002,240).

His female line includes stakes winner Ms Pilot Point ($73,706), dam of Paint My Pilot ($392,175) and Ms Leaving You ($83,332). Jessapilottrain now has a record of 13-3-2-4 with earnings of $125,856 and was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Mardi Gras Derby. His first stakes win came in the Laddie Juvenile Stakes.

G Amtrak B finished fourth and was followed by Hueys Wild Bay B, MP Sixy Silhouette, TF Jess A Eagle, India De La Nieve and First Cash Ha Chi. Paint Me Onis was scratched.

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