RDD Reasons For B will attempt to give breeder Richard Dale Domingue his biggest victory in Louisiana's premier state-bred futurity on Saturday at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By Martha Claussen

VINTON, LA–JULY 7, 2026-On Saturday, July 11, the final of the $602,705 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) will take place at Delta Downs. The field for the championship for accredited Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds was decided on Friday, June 19, when 11 trials were completed over a sloppy racetrack.

It was a challenging evening for the juveniles and their connections, as the 350-yard times were closely followed throughout the evening. In the tenth trial, a new leader emerged when RDD Reasons for B crossed the wire in :17.577 seconds. The lone filly to qualify will take on “the boys” in the championship.

Rdd Reasons For B winning her trial to the Lee Berwick Futurity. © Jack Coady Photography

Bred by Richard “Dale” Domingue, RDD Reasons For B is by Freighttrain B out of the FDD Dynasty mare FDD Reasons. This is just the second foal by Fdd Reasons, bred and raised by Domingue on his farm in Youngsville, Louisiana, south of Lafayette.

“I remember thinking she would make a wonderful saddle horse due to her relaxed demeanor,” he said.

Rdd Reasons For B sold as Hip 1 for $18,500 in the 2025 LQHBA Yearling Sale. © Marie Littlefield

Domingue sale prepped the bay filly for the 2025 LQHBA Yearling Sale, and she entered the ring as Hip #1.

“I wasn’t sure what she would bring as the first horse in the sale,” he admitted.

Several horsemen, including Rogelio Marquez, Jr., had the filly on their list of LQHBA Yearling sale prospects.

The multiple LQHBA Champion owner and five-time winner of the Lee Berwick Futurity, beginning with Dashunder Afullmoon in 2017, liked what he saw.

“We looked her over and liked her conformation and felt she had a good head on her shoulders,” explained Marquez. But to be honest, I was a little superstitious about bidding on the first horse in the sale.”

His doubts subsided, and Marquez signed the ticket for a very reasonable $18,500. With her runner-up finish in the $302,355 Lassie Futurity, she has already earned $66,397.

“You can buy high-dollar horses, and sometimes it doesn't pan out,” added Marquez. “We are grateful to qualify again this year but admit that winning would mean the world to my family.”

Rdd Lajollanfastdash winning the 2016 Lee Berwick Futurity . © Hodges Photography

For many in the highly competitive world of Quarter Horse racing, qualifying once for the second-richest championship in Louisiana racing is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, in 2016, Domingue awaited the final of the Lee Berwick Futurity with fastest qualifier RDD Lajollanfastdash. Sadly, his homebred, the son of Heza Fast Dash out of the Streakin La Jolla mare La Jollan Queen, was shut off at the start of the gate and finished tenth. Domingue was disappointed, but proud of his homebred, who won the LQHBA Sale Futurity and completed his 2-year-old season with a record of six wins from eight starts and earnings of $403,498.

One decade ago, Domingue was proud that a breeder with just five broodmares had such a promising juvenile. Retired from Shell after 33 years, Domingue has been breeding Quarter Horses in Louisiana for close to 40 years. He will have a second chance this year with just one broodmare on his farm, Fdd Reasons.

Domingue and Marquez will be joined by two members of the team seeking their first victory in the Lee Berwick Futurity: Trainer Juan C. Garcia and jockey Leonardo Rodriguez.

Garcia, a former jockey from Mexico City, has been training the Marquez runners for the past two years.  Rodriguez, 25, is the youngest of the three brothers, born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and currently riding in Louisiana. Everardo was honored as the LQHBA Champion jockey in 2018, and his middle brother, Jose, is enjoying success riding for several trainers, including Ismael Solis-Guevara and Kenneth Roberts. Sr. Rodriguez has captured leading riding titles at Louisiana Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Delta Downs. He qualified two juveniles for the Lee Berwick, but there was no question as to which he would ride in the final.

Rdd Reasons For B winning her trial to the Lassie Futurity.
© Hodges Photography

“She’s improved so much since her first race (a trial for the Lassie Futurity on April 30),” said Rodriguez. “Maybe the biggest filly I have ever ridden, but always under control. I am very confident in her.”

Dale and his wife Gloria Domingue. 

Domingue is looking forward to the final on Saturday night. He and his wife, Gloria, hope for a better outcome than the tenth-place finish with RDD Lajollanfastdash ten years ago.

“Honestly, I am just hoping for a clean race,” he stated. “This filly has already exceeded my expectations as a Louisiana breeder.”

Misty Coats, LQHBA executive director, wishes the best to each of the qualifiers.

The Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs is an incredible showcase for state-bred Quarter Horses,” said Coats. “We salute our breeders for their commitment and support of our annual Yearling Sale. Each year, we see that modest sale graduates can become champions!”

Martha Claussen has been involved in racing since 1997, when she served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education, and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, and other regions of North America.

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