El Turista (#3) dug in gamely to capture the $35,000 Esplanade Stakes, holding off Five Bar Jess Cartel (#4) and Big Red Train (#1) at Delta Downs Thursday night.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA—AUGUST 7, 2025—In a thrilling finish at Delta Downs, El Turista dug in gamely to capture the $35,000 Esplanade Stakes, holding off Five Bar Jess Cartel by a head with Big Red Train another head back in third.

The 3-year-old black colt stopped the timer for the 400-yard dash in 19.714 seconds, earning a 99 speed index over a fast track under cloudy skies and calm wind conditions.

Bred in California by Jose G. Reyes, El Turista is a son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon out of Shesa Vivian, by Just Amazing Jess. He is owned by Ismael Arce Romero and trained by Jose Carrizales, with Randy Edison Jr. in the saddle.

The victory was worth $15,000 to the connections, boosting El Turista's earnings to $35,265. It was the colt's first stakes victory.

El Turista drifted inward late but had just enough to hold off the hard-charging Five Bar Jess Cartel, a 5-year-old Louisiana-bred sorrel gelding by Five Bar Cartel out of Jess Tempting to Fly, by Tempting Dash.

The winning connections of El Turista accept the Esplanade Stakes trophy at Delta Downs on Thursday.
© Hodges Photography

Owned by Fausto G. Mendoza, trained by John Norwood Jr., and bred by Gerard Hebert, Five Bar Jess Cartel was ridden by Pedro Espinosa and earned $7,000 for second. A stakes winner of more than $192,000, Five Bar Jess Cartel won the Mr Jess Perry Stakes at Louisiana Downs in March.

Big Red Train, a 4-year-old Louisiana-bred sorrel gelding by Freighttrain B out of Very Intriguing, by Jess Louisiana Blue, finished another head back in third.

Owned by Salazar Stables LLC, trained by Patrick Clemons, and bred by Kenneth Garcia, Big Red Train was purchased for $100,000 at the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale. With Eddi Martinez aboard, he earned $3,850 for his effort after pressing the pace early before flattening out late. He earned nearly $50,000 in 18 starts.

Pari-mutuel payouts returned $14.20 to win, $5.60 to place, and $4.60 to show on El Turista. Five Bar Jess Cartel paid $3.20 to place and $3.40 to show, while Big Red Train returned $3.60 to show.

The order of finish was El Turista, Five Bar Jess Cartel, Big Red Train, Mark 536, Rf Imperial Choice, Queen of Power, with Jp Storm Eagle declared a non-starter following a gate incident.

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