VINTON, LA—JULY 3, 2020—Delta Downs began an exciting weekend of American Quarter Horse racing on Friday night by hosting three rich stakes races. The featured event on the night was the $329,410 Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2). The undercard included the $98,150 Old South Derby (see related story) and the $50,000 Vinton Stakes (see related story).

The Lassie Futurity was won by Patrick Richardson’s Sheza Freighttrain T under jockey Rolando Pina. The Eric Long trainee defeated One Sweet Filly by a head with race favorite and fastest qualifier Mr Runaway Presence wining up third, another ¾ of a length behind the top pair.

Sheza Freighttrain T covered 330 yards in the Lassie in a time of 16.631 while racing on a sloppy track. That time equaled a speed index of 94.

Sheza Freighttrain T came into the Lassie as the seventh fastest qualifier but was able to notch her third win from four career starts. She also made it to the final of the $315,000 Mardi Gras Futurity in March where she suffered her only defeat finishing a close second to El Camino Cl, who will be one of the favorites in Saturday night’s $357,981 Laddie Futurity.

Sheza Freighttrain T earned $164,705 for her Lassie win and now boasts an overall bankroll of $227,884.

Bred in Louisiana by Rusty J. Trahan, Sheza Freighttrain T is a 2-year-old filly by Freighttrain B, out of the Carters Cartel mare Clonin Around. She was purchased at the 2019 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Yearling Sale for $50,000.

Runner-up One Sweet Filly picked up $56,000 for owner-breeder J & & Stables LLC. Jose Carrizales saddled the daughter of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess from the Walk Thru Fire mare Filly Er Up. Antonio Perez was aboard the $10,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale repurchase.

Fastest qualifier Ms Runaway Presence put in a late rally under jockey Noe Castaneda to aern $32,941 for third. Kenneth Roberts, Sr. conditions the $27,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate for owner Douglas Traylor. Charles and Irma Lyles bred the Sir Runway Dash filly from the Daunting Presence mare Provocative Presence.

Sent to the gate at odds of 5-2, Sheza Freighttrain T paid $7 to win, $4.20 to place and $3 to show. One Sweet Filly paid $13.20 to place and $5.40 to show. Ms Runaway Presence was worth $2.20 to show.

Jess Louisiana Dash, Rf Runaway Duck, Sheza Zoomin Memory, Jess Her Dream, Jj Freighttrain, Jessaprimadonna and Tees Snowlady completed the field.

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Delta Downs will close out its fourth week of American Quarter Horse racing on Saturday night with a 10-race program that begins at 6:15 pm CT. Saturday’s highlight races include the $357,981 Laddie Futurity (RG2), the $151,255 Old South Futurity and the $25,000 Develop a Plan Stakes (G2).

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

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.