Delta Downs: Taylor has potent pair for Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity

Trainer Heath Taylor, fresh off winning the Grade 2, $327,715 Firecracker Futurity for Quarter Horses at Delta Downs, will be chasing the Delta meet’s richest prize Saturday night when he sends out fastest qualifier Fast Talkin Henry and stablemate Bigtime Beau in the $551,055 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity.

The 350-yard race, which is a restricted Grade 1, is one of seven stakes for Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses on the closing-night card at Delta. The races are worth a cumulative $931,055.

Taylor won his seventh Firecracker Futurity on July 7 with Ronnie James. His starters in the Berwick will break side by side. Bigtime Beau, who was the third-fastest qualifier for the Berwick, will break from the rail, while Fast Talkin Henry drew post 2.

John Hamilton, who qualified both horses for Taylor, will be aboard Fast Talkin Henry, while Ricky Ramirez Jr. has the mount on Bigtime Beau. Both horses bring a 2-for-3 record into the finale, with Fast Talkin Henry having won his trial in 17.33 seconds, and Bigtime Beau in 17.51.
Ms Jingles, who was the second-fastest qualifier for the Berwick with a time of 17.40, will be seeking her fifth win and fourth score in a row. Eddie Cox has the mount for trainer Frank Cavazos, who will also start Beer and Peanuts and Special Anchine.

Also on the card, Jls Mr Bigtime, who was second to reigning world champion Cold Cash 123 in the Grade 1 Remington Park Invitational, returns to his home state of Louisiana for the $100,000 Louisiana Classic. The 440-yard race is a restricted Grade 2. Jls Mr Bigtime will be making his second start of the year. Last season, he finished third in the All American Derby at Ruidoso, and in 2010, was second by a nose in the All American Futurity.