Shes Ec To Tempt has been set at 8-5 as the morning-line favorite in Friday's $185,865 Big Easy Futurity at Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA—AUGUST 26, 2025—A competitive field of ten will square off in the $185,865 Big Easy Futurity on Friday, August 29, at Delta Downs.

The 350-yard test for two-year-old Quarter Horse foals of 2023 headlines the evening card, with the first post set for 6:15 p.m. and the Big Easy Futurity scheduled as Race 4 with an approximate 9:30 p.m. (CDT) post time.

Leading the field is #7 Shes Ec To Tempt (8-5), the morning-line favorite after an impressive wire-to-wire trial victory on August 8.

Owned and bred by Francisco Javier Garza, the Tempting Dash filly out of Kas Shes Ec, by Ec Jet One, is trained by Patrick L. Clemons and will be ridden by Victor M. Urieta, Jr. She cruised to a 1¼-length score in her trial, stopping the clock in 17.749 for 350 yards—the fastest qualifying time from the eight trial heats.

A model of consistency, she has won two of three starts and earned $12,900 thus far.

Among her toughest challengers will be #9 Jess Transcendent (6-1), a bay colt by Heza Fast Rogue out of Jess The Gal, by Valiant Hero. Bred in Louisiana by Jacob R. Broussard and purchased for $10,000 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, he runs for Guerras Racing Stables.

Trained by Gilberto Gonzalez and ridden by Federico Vargas, Jess Transcendent has shown grit in each of his seven starts, posting three wins, a victory in the Louisiana Juvenile, and $61,585 in earnings. His August 8 trial win came by a head over Jlc Show Time, completing 350 yards in 17.928, the second-fastest qualifying mark.

Starting off the rail, Its Tarzan (6-1) also enters the final off an impressive showing, capturing his trial heat by a nose at odds of 1.30-1. The bay colt, bred in Louisiana by Ted Soileau, is by Tarzanito and out of Jess Might Be Famous by One Famous Eagle.

Purchased for $13,000 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, Its Tarzan has compiled three wins from six starts and earned $34,385 for owner-trainer Santiago Garcia. Victor M. Miranda returns to ride after piloting him to his most recent triumph in 17.953, the third-fastest qualifying time. He brings a three-race win streak into the final.

LRH Henry T, the second-fastest qualifier, heads into Friday night’s $185,865 Big Easy Futurity at Delta Downs in sharp form. Trained by Trey Ellis for owners Jetty and Donald Lemaire and Doback Racing LLC, the Freighttrain B gelding has won three of four career starts, earning $31,800 to date.

In his August 8 trial, LRH Henry T broke sharply on a wet-fast track and went gate to wire, stopping the clock in :17.87 for 350 yards with a speed index of 88. Earlier this summer, he captured a $24,500 allowance on July 4 and broke his maiden at first asking on May 1, all at Delta Downs. With proven local form and strong early speed, LRH Henry T looks poised to be a major factor in the Big Easy Futurity final.

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Two additional undercard Stakes, the Desaix Stakes, preference to 2-year-olds with the fastest non-qualifying times in the Big Easy Futurity time trials, and the Faubourg St John Stakes for 3-year-olds & up.

Race 7 Desaix Stakes
A competitive field of two-year-old Quarter Horses will go to post Friday night in the $25,000 Desaix Stakes at Delta Downs. The 350-yard dash offers the winner a guaranteed purse of $15,000 and serves as an early showcase for some of Louisiana’s most promising juveniles. Horses that did not qualify for the Big Easy Futurity were given preference by times.

Among the leading contenders is Jet Outta Heere, a son of Ec Jet One owned by Israel Flores. Trained by Leonel Hernandez, the colt has flashed plenty of talent, breaking his maiden in April and finishing a close second in his most recent trial, where he surged late to almost get up at the wire.

Gold Hearted Eagle, owned and trained by Jose D. Barron, also figures prominently after two wins from four starts, including a sharp allowance victory in June and a solid third-place finish in his latest trial.

Another to watch is San Vandido, a two-time winner trained by Jose Sanchez, who has shown excellent gate speed and consistency despite a troubled trip in his most recent start.

With several lightly raced juveniles showing strong recent form and breeding that suggests plenty of upside, the Desaix Stakes is a fast and tightly run affair. Post time for the feature is set for approximately 8:40 p.m. (CDT) at Delta Downs.

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Race 8 St John Stakes

The Faubourg St John Stakes at Delta Downs offers a $25,000 purse and will be run at 870 yards under the lights on August 29, 2025. The race is open to three-year-olds and up.

The field is headlined by a deep cast of Louisiana-bred contenders, including some proven 870-yard specialists and several improving runners looking to make their mark. Delta Downs' oval's distance and tight configuration often favor speed, but the ability to carry that speed around the turn is critical in this stakes-caliber dash.

David Bustamante owned and trained Explosive Legend (8-5) leads the field, a four-year-old gelding who has been dominant over this distance. Winner of four of his last five starts, including the Live Oak Stakes on July 12, he owns a 104 speed index and boasts an impressive record at Delta Downs with four wins from seven local starts.

Right behind him is Power of the Smile (4-1), another sharp four-year-old who captured the Virgil Bond Stakes in June and has finished in the exacta in five of his last six races.

Veteran campaigners like One Fast Cajun (6-1), already a 14-time winner lifetime, and Jess Catch This (5-1), a seven-year-old with 10 career victories, add seasoned depth to the lineup. Up-and-coming threats like Buckle Up Blue and Your Beehind Honey could shake up the exotics with well-timed rallies.

Post time for the feature is set for approximately 9:05 p.m. (CDT) at Delta Downs.

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