Lagartija C, under jockey Noe Castaneda, won the $40,000 Lassie Stakes for accredited 2-year-old Louisiana-Bred fillies on Friday night at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–MAY 23, 2025–Lagartija C surged to the wire in a determined effort to win the $40,000 Lassie Stakes on Friday night at Delta Downs, capturing the 330-yard event for Louisiana-bred 2-year-old fillies in one of the closest finishes of the meet.

Ridden by Nestor Castaneda and trained by Patrick Clemons, the daughter of Ivory James prevailed by a neck in a time of 17.160 seconds. The win was worth $24,000 to CH Horse Racing, LLC. Bred in Louisiana by Cox-Lane LLC, Lagartija C is out of Bac in Front, a daughter of Foose.

Breaking her maiden in her third start she has earned $26,420. A $40,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, the bay filly sold under the name See Ya.

The winning connections of Lagartija C accept the Lassie Stakes trophy at Delta Downs. © Hodges Photography

Shes Jess Sixy, a sorrel filly by Mr Piloto out of Sixy Silhouette by Corona Cartel, finished second under jockey Modesto Gutierrez. She is trained by Josue Espinosa for owner Jerry Deville Jr., and was bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms, LLC.

Beaten only a neck at the wire, the $16,500 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate earned $8,000 for her strong runner-up finish and continues to impress early in her racing career. Shes Jess Sixy broke her maiden in the Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) trials at first asking and has banked $22,200 in three starts.

Sl Something, a promising sorrel filly by first-crop sire San Lorenzo out of A Dashin Jewel by Dash Master Jess, closed strongly on the outside to finish third, beaten just a nose for the place.

Trained by David Bustamante and ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez, she is bred and owned by Rebecca Jameson of Louisiana. Her solid performance netted her $4,400 to boost her earnings to $6,400 in two starts and further confirmed her potential as a stakes contender.

The remainder of the field, all of whom finished within close striking distance, included Freighttrain Alice, Ivory Heart Z, BP Fancy Jess, Famous Fast Dash, MP Jet Royalty, Little Toy Guns, and Jess A Magic Perry.

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Delta Downs continues its Quarter Horse meet on Saturday night, May 24, with a full card of racing highlighted by the $ 268,895 Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2). The 330-yard finale combines the fastest qualifiers from the May trials, including standouts Rf Fast Dash N Blood, Gold Hearted Policy, and Joncades Fly By.

The Futurity promises to deliver high drama as top juvenile colts and geldings vie for one of the richest purses of the season.

First post is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT. Fans can follow all the action via Q-Racing Video at www.qracingvideo.com.

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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 USA TODAY 10 Best readers, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space, and over 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center, and the FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information about the season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.

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

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