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Delta Downs Opens Meet with Stakes Doubleheader, Old South Derby Trials
Mardi Gras Derby winner Five Bar Jess Cartel will be facing aged runners for the first in the $40,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2)at Delta Downs Friday.

© Ann Switalski Photography
Delta Downs Opens Meet with Stakes Doubleheader, Old South Derby Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA–APRIL 24, 2023–Delta Downs will open its 46-date American Quarter Horse meet with a xx-race program on Friday, topped by a stakes doubleheader and four 350-yard Old South Derby trials.

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

A full field of 10 Louisiana-breds are entered in Friday's 350-yard, $40,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2). Fausto G. Mendoza's Five Bar Jess Cartel and CB Racing Stables' RF Fast Dash N Jess both bring three-race win streaks into the Open Me A Corona. A sorrel Five Bar Cartel colt trained by Joel Huitron, Five Bar Jess Cartel will be facing aged runners for the first time off of his one-length victory in the April 1, $104,000 Mardi Gras Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds at Louisiana Downs.

Five Bar Jess Cartel drew post 9 and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna.

RF Fast Dash N Jess is undefeated since he was claimed for $10,000 on August 20. A 4-year-old son of One Sweet Jess trained by Xavier Scott, the gelding ended his sophomore campaign with a half-length win in the 400-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG2) at Evangeline Downs on December 17.

RF Fast Dash N Jess drew post 5 and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez.

Also on Friday, a full field of 10 sprinters is entered in the 250-yard, $20,000 Delta Dash Stakes.

Rogelio Marquez Jr.'s San Lorenzo Dash is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Jess Dash Fast, in the March 24, 330-yard Bill Montgomery Stakes (R) at Louisiana Downs. The homebred 4-year-old Heza Fast Dash mare drew the rail post and will be ridden by Ubaldo Luna for trainer Jesus M. Marquez.

Thirty-six 3-year-olds are entered in Friday's Old South Derby trials.

JP General, a gelded son of champion A Revenant owned and trained by Jose R. Espinosa, will be making his first start since September 5, when the gelding ran seventh, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Hes Judgeandjury, in Quarter Horse racing's richest race, the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. A $105,000 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, JP General has earned $115,200 from five races.

JP General drew post 3 and will be ridden by Cipriano Vidana in the third of four trials.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday's heats will meet in the May 19, $50,000-added Old South Derby final.

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