26/02/2023
VOLCOM IN THE BLOOD 🩸 LEATHEL DELIGHT🩸
Delight Interest, a son of the Separatist stallion Seperate Interest and the fastest qualifier, was a prompt even-money favorite in Saturday's 400-yard, $143,955 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.
Trained by Josue Ponce for owner Triple Five, Delight Interest defeated Leviton by a neck in :19.303. Manuel Gutierrez rode the Oklahoma-bred gelding, who banked the $67,659 winner's share of the purse while recording a 106 speed index.
Delight Interest was bred by George Mitchell, and he was purchased by Eduardo Leon for $30,000 at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. The gelding is out of Volcoms Delight, a winning and stakes-placed 12-year-old daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Volcom. His second dam, the Dean Miracle mare Lethal Delight, won the 2009 Shue Fly Stakes (RG1) at Sunland Park.
Delight Interest made his sophomore season debut with a clear 2 1/2-length victory in the first of five West Texas Derby trials on February 4. Campaigned in four states, the gelding has won four of 10 starts and has banked $149.793. He ended his juvenile season with a second-place finish in the December 16, 400-yard Evangeline Downs Futurity (G3) in Louisiana.
Docs Stoli Rme, KJ Wicked Wanda, Viper Driver, A Candy Dynasty, Doing Something Good, One Good Corona, One Fearless Eagle, and Fireside Chat completed the order of finish.
Photo by Coady Photography