Into The Grey (inside), under jockey Luis L. Vivanco, won the $50,000 HDJ Butler Stakes with aboard. Into The Grey is owned by Rogelio Marquez, Jr and trained by Jeremy Derozin.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–JUNE 21, 2025–In a thrilling blanket finish under the lights at Delta Downs, Into The Grey, a 6-year-old graded stakes-winning gelding by Sir Runaway Dash out of Sass That Chick by Chicks a Blazin, surged late to narrowly take the $50,000 HDJ Butler Stakes by a nose on Saturday night.

Ridden by Luis Vivanco, the Rogelio Marquez Jr.-owned runner clocked the 400-yard dash in 19.797 seconds, earning a 97 speed index on a fast track with no wind.

Trained by Jeremy Derozin and bred in Louisiana by Phatt Kat Ranch, Into The Grey added $30,000 to his earnings, pushing his lifetime bankroll beyond $209,790. This win marks his sixth career victory and further cements his status as one of Louisiana’s premier sprinters, having previously captured the Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2) at Delta Downs in 2024.

The winning connections of Into The Grey accept the HDJ Butler Stakes trophy Delta Downs. © Hodges Photography

PK Pure Rogue, the 5-year-old bay gelding by Heza Fast Rogue out of Kinky Boots by Agouti, gave a gallant effort under champion jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, dueling stride-for-stride with the winner before being nosed out at the wire.

Trained by Guadalupe Tristan for Barraza Brothers and Sons Racing LLC, and also bred by Phatt Kat Ranch, he earned $10,000 for the runner-up finish. PK Pure Rogue entered the race with over $283,000 in earnings and recent victories in the RG3 Miss Polly Classic Stakes and Boco Overnight Stakes. He was a $9,200 purchase from the 2021 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

Third place went to GBH Fiscal Toni, a stout 4-year-old sorrel gelding by The Fiscal Cliff out of Streakin for Toni by Streakin La Jolla. He finished 1¾ lengths behind the top pair, gamely holding off others under jockey Eddie Sanchez.

Trained by Jose Sanchez for owners Marco Ramirez, Gary W. Hartstack, and John Bond, the gelding was bred in Louisiana by Hartstack. His strong performance earned him $5,500 and brings his lifetime earnings past $111,730. He was a 2022 LQHBA RNA at $10,200. GBH Fiscal Toni previously captured the Louisiana Champions Day Derby (G3) in 2024.

The race offered tight margins: a nose separated Into the Grey and PK Pure Rogue, with 1¾ lengths back to GBH Fiscal Toni.

From the pari-mutuel windows, Into the Grey returned $12.00 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3.20 to show. PK Pure Rogue paid $3.60 to place and $2.20 to show, while GBH Fiscal Toni returned $2.20 to show.

The $1 exacta combination of Into the Grey and PK Pure Rogue returned $15.40. The 50-cent trifecta with GBH Fiscal Toni in third paid $22.70, and the 10-cent superfecta with fourth-place finisher One Sweet Boss returned $8.32. The 50-cent Pick 3 paid $209.75, and the $1 daily double returned $255.60.

Also rans were One Sweet Boss (4th), Apollitical Delight (5th), and Sandstone (6th). 

There are three weeks remaining in the Quarter Horse season at Delta Downs and the next live action will take place on Wednesday night. First post time is set for 6:15 pm (CDT).

For more information about the season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing, and fun dining experiences. It is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7, and from Texas, take Exit 4.

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