Racing


One Fast Cajun Dominates Live Oak Stakes At Delta Downs
One Fast Cajun, under jockey Ubaldo Luna, won the $50,000 Live Oak Stakes on Saturday at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography
One Fast Cajun Dominates Live Oak Stakes At Delta Downs

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–JULY 11, 2026–Multiple stakes-winning veteran Louisiana-bred One Fast Cajun continued his outstanding career Saturday night at Delta Downs, drawing off to a convincing 2¼-length victory in the $50,000 Live Oak Stakes for accredited Louisiana-breds at 870 yards.

Sent off as the 4-5 favorite under Ubaldo Luna, the 8-year-old bay gelding stopped the timer in 45.934, earning a 96 speed index while recording his latest stakes victory for owners Darrin and Norman Ladner.

Trained by Shane Ladner, One Fast Cajun was bred in Louisiana by Terry L. Gabriel and is by former leading sire Heza Fast Dash out of the Lion Tamer (TB) mare Cajun Rocket (TB). Breaking fourth from the gate, he advanced steadily into contention before taking command around the far turn and drawing clear through the stretch.

The winning connections of One Fast Cajun accept the Live Oak Stakes trophy. © Hodges Photography

One Fast Cajun is undefeated in three starts this season, including winning the Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs in his previous start on June 6. He has won 18 of 36 career starts and used the $30,000 Live Oak winner's purse to boost his career mark to $377,850. One Fast Cajun also won the 2024 Live Oak Stakes at Delta.

Run For The Prize rallied to finish a clear second, 2¼ lengths behind the winner while holding Ruse Hint safely at bay by 7¼ lengths. The 4-year-old gray gelding by multiple stake sire You Drive I Fly, from the Fishers Dash mare Dasha Effort, races for Brenda Sanchez and was bred by Jumonville Farms. Trained by Andre Brooks and ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez, Run for the Prize earned $10,000 for the runner-up effort. A 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, he sold for $8,500, he has earned $97,935 in 22 starts.

Another 7¼ lengths back in third was Ruse Hint, a 4-year-old brown gelding by Thoroughbred sire Imperial Hint out of First Girl to Shine, by First to Shine. Owned by Barbara and Cedric C. Johnson, bred by Gini Crawford, and trained by David Bustamante, Ruse Hint was ridden by Randy Edison Jr. and collected the $5,500 third-place share of the purse. He is also a 2023 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate, having brought $8,000, and he has earned $73,395.

Completing the order of finish were Explosive Legend, Dead Winner, and Jess Catch This.

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