Fastest qualifier RF Fast Dash N Blood has been installed at the 5/2 morning line favorite for Saturday's $268,895 Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA—May 24, 2025—A competitive field of ten Louisiana-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings will line up for Saturday night’s running of the $268,895 Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs, with RF Fast Dash N Blood emerging as the 5/2 morning-line favorite.

The 330-yard feature, restricted to Louisiana-accredited Quarter Horses foaled in 2023, is slated as Race 9 with an approximate post time of 9:43 PM CT.

Fastest qualifier RF Fast Dash N Blood turned heads in his May 3 trial win, covering the distance in :16.89 while posting a field-best fastest qualifying time. The gelding broke sharply and pulled clear to win by daylight for trainer Miguel A. Castillo and jockey Jorge J. Garcia.

Owned by Jaime Cardenas and bred by Rogers Farm Tim and Jennie Rogers, the bay son of champion sire Apollitical Blood is out of Fast Dash N Deb by Heza Fast Dash and was a $80,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale purchase. He enters the final with a record of one win and one second from three starts, with earnings of $31,346.

Drawn in post 10, Gold Hearted Policy (7/2) enters undefeated in two career starts, including an authoritative trial score on May 3 in :17.104, the third-fastest qualifying time. The gelded son of second-crop sire Gold Heart Eagle V is trained by Adrian Huitron, who has him primed for a major effort under rider Humberto Vital.

Owned by 2 Kings Racing, LLC (Issac Salgado) and bred by Darrell Williams, Gold Hearted Policy was purchased for $20,000 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale and is out of Bp One Sweet Policy by One Sweet Jess. His two victories have earned him $14,400 heading into the final.

The Laddie Futurity purse includes $75,000 in funding from the LQHBA. The winner will receive 50% of the total purse, with tiered distributions down to tenth place. All entrants will carry 124 lbs., and all qualifiers have passed required hair testing protocols as outlined by the LQHBA.

Among the other top contenders are Luziana Man (5-1), an undefeated gelding by Dominyun trained by Jose Espinosa, and Joncades Fly By (6-1), a sharp trial winner by You Drive I Fly trained by Leonel Hernandez. Both enter off strong efforts in their respective trials and have shown consistent early speed.

Wagering options for Race 9 include Exacta, Trifecta (50¢ minimum), and Superfecta (10¢ minimum).

Jessapilottrain and Ten Plus Top Talented Laddie Stakes Lineup at Delta Downs

A pair of promising two-year-old colts with strong credentials headline Saturday night’s $40,000 Laddie Stakes at Delta Downs, Race 8 on the card.

The 330-yard dash is restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred colts and geldings that competed in the Laddie Futurity trials but failed to qualify for the final. The spotlight centers on morning-line favorite #1 Jessapilottrain and the upward-trending #8 Ten Plus, both of whom bring class and speed to this high-stakes rematch.

Installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, Jessapilottrain enters off a tough-luck fourth-place finish in his May 3 trial at Delta. The colt drifted out late but still closed well to finish just off the board.

Trained by Jose Espinosa and ridden by Daniel Sandoval-Granado, the Freighttrain B colt has shown flashes of real potential, including a sharp debut win in March at Louisiana Downs, where he edged out foes in the trials.

With a career-best 93 speed index and a game third-place showing in the $399,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2), Jessapilottrain has already proven he can compete against top-tier juveniles. A clean trip from the rail could be the key to landing his second career win.

Breaking from post 8, Ten Plus (7-2) looms as a major threat for co-owner and trainer Jose Espinosa. The Gold Heart Eagle V gelding turned heads with a dominant debut at Louisiana Downs on March 8, posting a sizzling 91 speed index while winning by daylight. He followed up with a respectable fourth in his trial heat earlier this month at Delta Downs, where he ran evenly after breaking mid-pack.

Ten Plus will have the services of rider Noe Castaneda and could benefit from the outside draw. If he returns to his debut form, his combination of speed and finishing ability makes him a dangerous contender.

Among the others hoping to upset the top pair is The Rhino, a consistent colt who dug in late to win his May 3 trial by a nose. Trained by Hector Alcala, he boasts a win and a third from just two career starts.

Also worth consideration is Payasito Dream, who nearly wired his trial field before being edged by a head in a gritty performance. Trained by Alex Clark, the One Dashing Eagle colt appears poised to move forward off that debut.

Another sleeper is Mysterious Eagle V, who impressed with a strong closing kick to take his trial in convincing fashion. Conditioned by Leonel Hernandez, he’s run well in both career starts and has shown a professional turn of foot in the stretch.

All three enter with encouraging form and could factor heavily if the top two falter at any stage.

The Laddie Stakes projects to be a competitive heat with several lightly raced juveniles showing rapid improvement. Jessapilottrain brings class and experience, while Ten Plus carries the highest recorded speed figure and untapped potential. A clean break will be crucial in this short dash, and the outside draw may offer Ten Plus a tactical edge.

With Espinosa training both top contenders and several trial runners returning for a second showdown, this Laddie Stakes edition promises fireworks from gate to wire.

Post time is set for 8:51 p.m. CT.

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