GOLD GUN Z SCORES HARD FOUGHT VICTORY IN THE DELTA DOWNS DERBY
July 12, 2025 – VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out the 2025 American Quarter Horse season with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night on Saturday. The 10-race program featured nine stakes including the richest race of the year, the $597,622 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), won by Jaime Cardenas’ Rf Fast Dash N Blood.
After breaking his maiden with a win in the Laddie Futruity trials on May 3 and following that up with an easy victory in the final, Rf Fast Dash N Blood cruised to a win and the fastest qualifying time in the Lee Berwick trials June 20. That win came easily as he dominated his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths. The margin of victory in the Lee Berwick final wasn’t as wide but paid bigger dividends.
Breaking from post position four in a field of eight, Rf Fast Dash N Blood under jockey Jorge Javier Garcia was squeezed a bit at the start before gaining stride and taking the lead in the 350-yard showdown. With 100 yards to go he looked uncatchable before Luziana Man began a furious rally with big strides. At the wire, Rf Fast Dash N Blood held off Luziana Man by a neck while Fantsy Man Train would up another 1 ¼-lengths behind the runner-up in third.
The running time for Rf Fast Dash N Blood in the Lee Berwick Futurity was 17.527 seconds. The time equaled a speed index of 97 for the Miguel Castillo trainee.
“I spotted him at the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale and I loved his bloodlines,” said Cardenas. “When you buy a horse like this you dream about winning a big futurity and my dreams have now come true”.
Bred in Louisiana by Rogers Farm/Tim/Jennie Rogers, Rf Fast Dash N Blood is a 2-year-old bay gelding by Apollitical Blood, out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Fast Dash N Deb. He was purchased at the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale for $80,000.
Rf Fast Dash N Blood has now won four times from six starts during his short career. He snared a winner’s paycheck of $298,811 on Saturday and now owns a bankroll of $470,605.
Sent off at odds of 3-5, Rf Fast Dash N Blood paid $3.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Luziana Man was worth $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Fantsy Man Train returned $4.40 to show.
The second richest race of the night was the $154,230 Delta Downs Derby (RG3) for 3-year-olds competing at 400 yards. The wagering favorite was Gold Gun Z ($3.60) under jockey Noe Castaneda and he did not disappoint his backers by winning the race in a gutsy performance over a fast closing Dropping Dimes.
Gold Gun Z came into the Derby off a win in his trial on June 19 and after an impressive 2-year-old campaign in 2024, where he won the Laddie Futurity at Delta Downs and finished fourth in the Louisiana Million at Evangeline Downs. He earned $77,115 for his Derby win and now has a bankroll of $314,612.
Bred in Louisiana by Slash Z Quarter Horses, Gold Gun Z is a 3-year-old bay gelding by Gold Heart Eagle V, out of the Tres Seis mare Cf Smokin Gun.
The $134,755 Delta Downs Oaks was annexed by One Sweet Tsunami ($11.20) under jockey Jose Ariel Rodriguez. The winner is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and is owned by JBJ Ranch (David Jones).
One Sweet Tsunami finished third in her trail for the Oaks but used a quick start and a strong finished to nail the big win on Saturday. Earning the lion’s share of the lofty purse, $67,377 One Sweet Tsunami now owns a lifetime bankroll of $82,877.
Bred in Louisiana by her owner, One Sweet Tsunami is a 3-year-old sorrel filly by One Sweet Jess, out of the Ocean Runaway mare Jb Fast Movin Ocean.
There was an upset in the $75,000 Louisiana Juvenile, which serves as a consolation race for horses who didn’t make it to the Lee Berwick Futurity as Guerras Racing Stables’ Jess Transcendent ($35.60) rallied late to score the win under jockey Gerardo Luna. The winner is trained by Gilberto Gonzalez.
Jess Transcendent broke his maiden at Louisiana Downs in March and finished second in his Lee Berwick Futurity trial on June 20. He earned $45,000 for his Juvenile win and his bankroll is now $88,585.
Bred in Louisiana by Jacob R. Broussard, Jess Transcendent is a 2-year-old colt by Heza Fast Rogue, out of the Valiant Hero mare Jess The Gal.
The $75,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2), run at the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards, was won by Pk Pure Rogue ($3.80), who is owned by Barraza Brothers and Sons Racing LLC. It was the second stakes win of the season for the Guadalupe Tristan trainee who had Rodrigo Vallejo in the saddle. Pk Pure Rogue also took the Miss Polly Classic (G3) opening weekend of the season.
Pk Pure Rogue has now won 11 races from 31 overall starts. He earned $45,000 for the effort in the Classic and has now earned a total of $338,135.
Pk Pure Rogue is a 5-year-old bay gelding by Heza Fast Rogue, out of the Agouti mare Kinky Boots.
Rogue Fast Dash ($8) made quick work of the field in the $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes for fillies and mares under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. The Ismael Solis-Guevara trainee has now won five-of-15 career starts and her $30,000 paycheck on Saturday raised her bankroll to $161,457. Rogue Fast Dash is a 4-year-old filly by Heza Fast Dash, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Miss Jess Rogue. It was the first stakes win for Solis-Guevara.
The inaugural running of the $50,000 Nag Nest Stakes was won by Dania Castellanos’ Konnan Cartel under jockey Eddi Martinez. The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Delta Downs 2025 leading trainer Francisco Javier Bernal.
Konnan Cartel ($9) added another $30,000 to his sizable bankroll on Saturday night. It now stands at $447,105 on 12 wins from 27 trips to the starting gate. Konnan Cartel is a son of Five Bar Cartel, out of the Jet Black Patriot mare Jet Black Chiraq.
The Nag Nest Stakes is named in honor of the late Louisiana Quarter Horse owner and breeder Darrell Williams, who operated Nag Nest Farms during his career.
The $50,000 Live Oak Stakes served as the only distance race on the program at 870 yards and it was the David Bustamante owned and trained gelding Explosive Legend ($5.60) who was ridden by jockey Donell Blake. Explosive has now won six-of-15 starts during his career and has banked a total of $124,658.
And finally, the $40,000 Louisiana Starter was wot by Blood Kiss ($8) with jockey Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. in the saddle for trainer Jose Carrizales. Blood Kiss is a 3-year-old filly owned by Alberto Salinas. His charge has now won three-of-15 career starts. The $24,000 first place paycheck raised her bankroll to $66,850.
For more information about the racetrack, visit the website www.deltadownsracing.com.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
