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Two Stakes, Trials Headline Opening-Night Program at Delta Downs
Mr Jess Perry stakes winner Five Bar Jess Cartel is entered in Friday's $50,000 Miss Polly Classic Stakes (G3) at Delta Downs.

© Ann Switalski Photography
Two Stakes, Trials Headline Opening-Night Program at Delta Downs

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA–APRIL 21, 2025–Two stakes and one set of trials top Friday's nine-race opening-night program at Delta Downs.

Post time for the first race is set for 6:15 p.m. (CDT).

Friday's 400-yard, $50,000 Miss Polly Classic Stakes (G3) has drawn a field of 10 runners, led by early favorites Five Bar Jess Cartel and PK Pure Rogue. A 5-year-old son of Five Bar Cartel trained by John Norwood Jr. for owner Fausto G. Mendoza, Five Bar Jess Cartel won both of his races during the Louisiana Downs winter meet, and he will be stretching out in distance off of his one-length victory in the 350-yard, $30,000 Mr Jess Perry Stakes (R) for state-breds on March 15.

Five Bar Jess Cartel drew post 2 and will be ridden by Jose A. Rodriguez.

PK Pure Rogue races for Jose H. Rodriguez from the barn of trainer Guadalupe Tristan. A 5-year-old son of Heza Fast Rogue, the multiple graded stakes winning gelding ships back to Louisiana from Kentucky, where he scored a nose victory in the March 25, 300-yard BOCO Overnight Stakes at the Sandy Ridge at The Red Mile meet in Lexington.

PK Pure Rogue drew post 9 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.

Also on Friday, 10 Louisiana-bred sprinters are entered in the 300-yard, $40,000 Titanium Stakes (R).

San Juana Montano's Jes Winnin Cartel is coming off of a fourth-place finish, 1 1/4-lengths behind Patty Wagon Train, in the February 15, 330-yard Billy Montgomery Stakes (R) for state-bred distaffers at Louisiana Downs. However, the 5-year-old Five Bar Cartel mare ended her 4-year-old season with state-bred stakes wins at Fair Grounds Racecourse and Evangeline Downs.

Jes Winnin Cartel drew post 6 and will be ridden by Rene Hernandez for trainer Noe Sanchez III.

Also on Friday, 35 sophomores are entered in four 330-yard Old South Derby trials.

Thetrainrobbersace, sorrel son of Freighttrain B racing for Robert Witsiepe and trainer Jose R. Espinosa, will face open company off of his eighth-place run in the March 28 Mardi Gras Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds at Louisiana Downs. The gelding has won two of his four starts at Delta Downs, and his record at the track includes a second-place finish, a head behind winner Gold Gun Z, in last year's 330-yard, $292,000 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2).

Thetrainrobbersace drew post 3 and will be ridden by Noe Castaneda in the third trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday's heats will meet in the May 16, $50,000 Old South Derby final.

All Delta Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com. 

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