Under jockey Gerardo Luna, Jess Transcendent won the $75,000 Louisiana Juvenile on Saturday at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–JULY 12, 2025– Jess Transcendent made every stride count with a powerful late surge to capture the $75,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes at Delta Downs on Saturday evening, covering the 350-yard dash in a sharp 17.935 seconds over a fast track with no wind.

The performance earned the two-year-old colt an 86 speed index.

Bred in Louisiana by Jacob R Broussard, Jess Transcendent is a brown colt by Heza Fast Rogue out of Jess the Gal, by Valiant Hero. The promising youngster was purchased for $10,000 at the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

He races in the colors of Guerras Racing Stables and is trained by Gilberto Gonzalez. Jockey Gerardo Luna guided him to a narrow head victory, worth $45,000 to the connections.

The winning connections of Jess Transcendent accept the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes trophy at Delta Downs Saturday. © Hodges Photography

"We love Louisiana and picked out this coat at the LQHBA sale for $10,000. He’s been good all year but ran a really big race tonight. Gerardo Luna is a young rider and we’ve given him some chances and are very happy with his ride in the Juvenile," Ricardo Guerras said following the win.

Just transcendent is paid into the million so he will stay in Louisiana and get ready for those trials.

Jess Transcendent has compiled a (5) 1-1-2 record and banked $58,555. He could make his next start in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) trials at Evangeline Downs this fall.

Just a head back in second was Our Runaway Train, a gray gelding by world champion sire Freighttrain B out of Ms Runaway Presence, by Sir Runaway Dash. Bred by Charles or Irma Lyles, the runner-up is owned by Pernell Edwards and trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., with Jose Rodriguez in the irons.

Our Runaway Train earned $15,000 for the effort. Also a finalist in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) last May, he has earned $23,478.

Mucho Man Train B completed the trifecta, finishing a half-length behind the runner-up. The brown colt by second-crop sire Kj Mucho Macho Man out of Rio Rojo Train B, by Freighttrain B, was bred by Ruse Ranch LLC and purchased for $35,000 at the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

Owned by J.J. Racing and also conditioned by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., Mucho Man Train B was ridden by Arturo Alvarez and picked up $8,250 for third place. He has banked $14,835 in four starts this season.

Pari-Mutuel Payoffs: Jess Transcendent paid $35.60 to win, $11.80 to place, and $6.00 to show. Our Runaway Train returned $6.00 to place and $3.80 to show, while Mucho Man Train B paid $3.40 to show.

Also rans were Jess Another Mornin (4th), Mjs Heart (5th), Inseperabug (6th), Gold Broiler Z (7th), The Rhino (fell, lost rider), and Jaccx Sizzle (clipped heels, lost rider). San Lorenzo Chicken was scratched.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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