Futurity Winning Stablemates Head $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity Saturday

Lassie Futurity(RG2) winner One Sweet Sugar, who posted the fastest qualifying time for the $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) will start from post position 9 under jockey Jasiel Aquino.

� Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–JULY 13, 2023–Delta Downs will host the richest American Quarter Horse program of the year on Saturday, July 15 when Louisiana Showcase Night takes center stage.

The annual event is devoted to horses bred in Louisiana with nine stakes races during an 11-race card. The main event will be the $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which will be the final race on the card. Over $1.3 million in purse money will be awarded during the night.

First post time is scheduled for 6:10 pm. (CST).

This year’s Lee Berwick field is headed by Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s One Sweet Sugar, who posted the fastest qualifying time of :17.524 for 350 yards on June 23. The Jesus Marquez trainee will break from post position nine under jockey Jasiel Aquino at morning line odds of 7-2.

Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) winner San Lorenzo Blood will make her next start in Saturday's $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity. © Ann Switalski Photography

The daughter of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess, from the Heza Fast Dash mare Sugarshaker B, is attempting to win her second major futurity this season as she also captured the $327,000 Lassie Futurity on May 26.   This is the family of All American Futurity(G1) winner and champion sire Teller Cartel.

The 9-5 favorite for the event also hails from the same barn as One Sweet Sugar, San Lorenzo Blood. The talented filly has won four of five career starts including a score in the Mardi Gras Futurity on March 25 at Louisiana Downs.

The daughter of leading sire Apollitcal Blood, from the Valiant Hero mare Ms Valiant Perry, was the 2-5 favorite to win the Lassie Futurity over her stablemate but stumbled at the start and wound up fourth.

Slash Z Quarter Horses bred the $70,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate from the family of champions Jess Walking Thru and Sass Me Blue.

For bios on each of the 10 qualifiers to the 2023 $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity CLICK HERE. Post time is scheduled for 10:20 pm.

Reporting by Martha Claussen.