Hawkabye Baby defeated Ghost Power by 1-1/2 lengths in the fourth of nine trials to set the fastest qualifying time.

© Hodges Photography

VINTON, LA–APRIL 27, 2024–Fastest qualifier Hawkabye Baby led a trio of juveniles by second-crop sire Hawkeye who dominated nine trials Saturday night for the Old South Futurity at Delta Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the Vinton, Louisiana oval on Saturday, May 18 to vie for the winner's share of a $213,210 purse going 330 yards. Each race on the program was contested over a fast track and with a strong crosswind from the south.

Making her career debut for owner Heavy Hitters Racing Stables Hawkabye Baby cruised late in the fourth trial to defeat Ghost Power by 1-1/2 lengths, establishing the night's fastest clocking of :16.641 seconds, a 97-speed index into a 15 mph crosswind. Jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. had the riding call.

Trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. conditions the $8,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate by second-crop sire Hawkeye. Tyler and Naia Graham bred the chestnut filly from the Jodys Money Pop mare Little Affection, a half-sister to two-time champion and leading sire Kiss My Hocks.

Runner-up in that trial, Ghost Power a $16,500 TQHA Sale grad also sired by Hawkeye, held on for the fourth-fastest clocking of :16.889 seconds, a 90 speed index. Adrian Huitron trains the gray gelding for owner 2 Kings Racing LLC. Billy Dan Dodd bred Ghost Power from the Papa Larry mare Papa Larrys Girl. Once Aguiar was riding.

Louisiana Downs Futurity(G2) finalist Dm Nite Hawk, also by Hawkeye, got his second career win in trial 8 to post the second fastest clocking of :16.762 seconds, a 93-speed index into a 15 mph crosswind.

Trainer Daniel Luna named jockey Eleazar Hernandez to ride the $8,000 TQHA Sale graduate, for owner Juan Servin.

Donna Mushinski bred the two-time winner from the Panther Mountain mare Mountain Affair, a half-sister to two black type including PCQHRA Breeders Derby(G2) winner Jessanotheraffair.

Bouncing off an eighth-place effort in a trial for the Oklahoma Futurity(G2) at Remington Park, Captain Tal broke his maiden in trial 5 to get the third fastest clocking of :16.887, a 90-speed index into a 15 mph crosswind.

Jose R. Espinosa owns and trains the $52,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate by leading sire Corona Cartel from the First Moonflash champion filly Foxy Moonflash.

Sabino Reyes had the riding call on the Bobby Simmons Texas-bred colt. This is also the family of two-time Distance Champion Wascallywittlewabbit.

For a complete list of Old South Futurity qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Delta Downs will conduct live racing next week, Wednesday through Saturday. A total of 12 qualifying trials for this year’s Lassie Futurity will be conducted on Wednesday and another dozen trials for the Laddie Futurity will take place on Friday.

Those trial nights will have a special early post time of 4:45 pm. The regular post time of 6:15 will be effective on Thursday and Saturday.

About Delta Downs
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named "America’s Best Horse Racing Track" by readers of USA TODAY 10 Best, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space, and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center, and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.