Vigilanty and jockey Victor Urieta Jr. surge to victory in the $297,965 Laddie Futurity on May 23 at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–MAY 23, 2026–Vigilanty rallied late to upset a talented field Saturday night in the $297,965 Laddie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs, giving jockey Victor Urieta Jr. and trainer Josue Ponce a major futurity victory during the Louisiana stakes season.

Breaking sharply from the inside portion of the gate, Vigilanty dueled early before finding his best stride late to pull clear by three-quarters of a length in a time of :16.604 seconds for 330 yards over a sloppy sealed surface. The gelding earned a 99 speed index while returning $24.00 to win at 11-1 odds.

Bred by Bobby D. Cox and owned by Rene Perez, Vigilanty is a $55,000 graduate of the LQHBA Yearling Sale. The gelding is sired by world champion sire Freighttrain B and out of the Jess Good Candy mare Lethal Candy.

The winning connections of Vigilanty accept the $297,965 Laddie Futurity (RG2) trophy at Delta Downs on Saturday.
© Hodges Photography

His second dam is stakes winner Lethal Delight ($453,701), a half-sister to champion Volcom Bay ($426,026), giving the gelding one of the deeper female families in the futurity division.

The victory marked Vigilanty’s second win from three career starts, improving his record to 3-2-1-0. The $148,983 winner’s share of the purse pushed his lifetime earnings to $156,383.

Post-time favorite Apollitical Latino closed strongly to finish second under jockey Jorge Garcia, stopping the clock in :16.743 seconds with a 95 speed index.

Bred by Legacy Ranch Inc. and owned by Jaime Cardenas, the gelding is trained by Jose Ponce. A $77,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, Apollitical Latino is sired by champion and All American Derby (G1) winner Apollitical Blood and out of the winning Corona Cartel mare LR Miss Atina.

He is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Mister Appolitical ($317,368). Still searching for his first career victory, the gelding now holds a record of 4-0-2-1 with earnings of $53,424.

Sharpest Image finished another solid effort in third under jockey Angel Fierro after battling early throughout the race. The colt earned a 95 speed index while completing the distance in :16.763 seconds.

Bred by Robicheaux Ranch Inc., owned by Vicente Arreola, and trained by Victor Oviedo, Sharpest Image is a $16,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate. The son of All American Derby (G1) winner Gold Heart Eagle V is out of the stakes-placed Game Patriot mare Non Stop Patriot ($50,050).

His female family traces to world champion Apollitical Jess ($1,399,831) and champion broodmare Apollitical Time ($904,242). The colt now sports a record of 4-1-1-2 with earnings of $80,337 and remains in search of his first stakes victory after also finishing third earlier this season in the Grade 2 Mardi Gras Futurity.

Mda Sweet Bar Cartel finished fourth and was followed by Tren Politico, Thunderrrstruck, Awesome Eagle V, One Royal Tarzan, and Man For Cos. Da Big Red was scratched from the field.

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