San Lorenzo Jezz (#4) who outdueled stablemate San Lorenzo Hustle (#1) to win the $654,014 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs Saturday night.

© Hodges Photography

VINTON, LA–JULY 13, 2024–A large crowd turned out at Delta Downs on Saturday night for another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night, an annual event that closes out each Quarter Horse season.

The program featured the season’s richest race, the $654,014 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). In all, there were nine stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses during the 11-race card.

The Lee Berwick field included nine 2-year-olds competing at 350 yards, and it was Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s San Lorenzo Jezz who outdueled stablemate San Lorenzo Hustle to get the win by a head under jockey Ubaldo Luna. Ace Trains R Forever finished another half-length behind the top pair in third.

San Lorenzo Jezz, who Jeremy Derozin trains, covered the distance over a muddy track in a time of 17.669 seconds. The time equaled a speed index of 91.

San Lorenzo Jezz won her trial for the Lee Berwick after finishing fourth in the $291,000 Lassie Futurity (RG2) earlier in the season. Her $327,007 first-place prize on Saturday raised her career bankroll up to $359,386.

The winning connections of San Lorenzo Jezz gather in the Delta Downs winner's circle for the presentation of the Lee Berwick stakes trophy. © Hodges Photography

Bred in Louisiana by her owner, San Lorenzo Jezz is a 2-year-old bay filly by American Hustle, out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Jezz Chick.

Rogelio Marquez, Jr. has now won four Lee Berwick Futurities in the last seven years.

His first came with Dashnunder Afullmoon in 2017 before San Lorenzo took the race in 2020. He also won the race with San Lorenzo Jet in 2022.

"I am humbled to win this race again this year," said Marquez. "This is a race that defines Louisiana Quarter Horse racing and means a great deal to me and my family since the first time we won in 2017.

"To just qualify for this race is very difficult. Personally, I thought that San Lorenzo hustle was going to get the job done, but we also saw that San Lorenzo Jezz Jess had a lot of grit. She’s the type of runner who likes to go get them. "

Luna’s score aboard San Lorenzo Jezz marked his fourth winner on the Louisiana Showcase Night program. The incredible feat capped off a season that saw him win his first leading rider title at Delta Downs. Earlier in the meeting, he reached a personal milestone of 500 career wins.

Also, a homebred for Marquez, Jr., runner-up San Lorenzo Hustle is a half-brother to last year's Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) winner One Sweet Sugar. Jockey Martin Osuna had the riding call on the American Hussle colt out of Sugarshaker B, by Heza Fast Dash. With one win in four starts, the $11,183 Berwick payday boosted San Lorenzo Hustle's earnings to $148,376.  He was also third in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) in May.

Ace Trains R Forever finished half-a-length back to earn $65,402 for third. Owners Jorge Antonio Silva and Jose Carlos Lopez paid $35,000 for the son of world champion sire Freighttrain B at the 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale. Trainer Leonel Hernandez named jockey Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. to ride the gelding out of Diamonds R Forever B, by FDD Dynasty. RJ Ranch LLC is the breeder.

Sent to the gate at odds of 7.5-1, San Lorenzo Jezz paid $17 to win, $6 to place, and $4.60 to show. San Lorenzo Hustle was worth $4 to place and $3.20 to show. Ace Trains R Forever returned $6.40 to show.

San Lorenzo Patrona, Golden Answerr, Beleavin, Jess Pretty N Black, Rf Imperial Choice, and Carte Blanch completed the field.

For more information about the season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.

About Delta Downs
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named "America’s Best Horse Racing Track" by USA TODAY 10 Best readers, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space, and over 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center, and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

Delta Downs is located on Delta Downs Drive in Vinton, Louisiana. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7; from Texas, take Exit 4.