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FIRST PRIZE DENIM DOMINATES IN $244,430 DELTA DOWNS LOUISIANA BRED DERBY
First Prize Denim, under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, drives to victory in the $244,430 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby.
© Coady PhotographyVINTON, LA—JULY 9, 2016—Multiple graded stakes winner First Prize Denim rallied Saturday night to defeat post time favorite Jessa Louisiana Zoom by 1¼ lengths in the $244,430 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby. Jet Black Rouge finished another length back for third.
Jockey Manuel Gutierrez rode the Oak Tree Special gelding to his fifth career win in six starts. The sorrel finished the 400 yards in :19.395 seconds, to earn a 102-speed index. Winner of last year's Laddie Futurity (RG2) at Delta, First Prize Denim pocketed $122,214 to bring his bankroll total to nearly $290,000.
Martin Trejo conditions the colt for owner Double H Racing Investment LLC. Weetona Stanley bred the gelding from the Fly Jess Fly mare First Prize Diamond.
"I've had him since he was a yearling", Trejo said following the derby win Saturday. "After he won the Laddie, we gave him a long rest, that's why he has come back so strong as a 3-year-old."
First Prize Denim's only loss came in the Lee Berwick Futurity trials last summer when he finished third.
Bobby D. Cox's multiple graded stakes winning filly Jessa Louisiana Blue drifted out under jockey Donald Watson. Kenneth Roberts, Sr. saddled the black filly who has won five of nine starts, including the 2015 Lee Berwick and Lassie Futurities at Delta. The $41,554 derby runner-up check boosted her career total to $575,107. Lyle Guillory is the breeder.
"Donald said when they loaded her in the gate she was kind of fighting them," Roberts said following the race. "She is a little filly and we have to baby her along. I can't take anything anything away from the winner. He ran a good race."
Jet Black Rouge, a multiple graded stakes-placed winner, is owned-and-trained by Michael Taylor. Ridden by Joe Badilla Jr., the brown filly, bred by Triple M Farms, broke slow but used a late rush to get third. She pocketed $24,444 for her effort.
Corona And Jewels, Telarosa, Jess Blue Intriguing, Super Sonic Patriot, Coronas Statement, Jet Black Zoomer and The Renaissance Man completed the field.