Jockey Gerard Melancon celebrates his 2nd win in the Delta Jackpot Stakes aboard Rise Up
2013 Delta Downs Jackpot Day Stakes Results
Date: 11/23/2013
The $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) is the highlight of the racing season at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds, it is a key Triple Crown prep as it is worth 10 points in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" system now used to determine the Derby field. A full field of 10 went to post on Saturday night, withh Coastline sent off as the 8-5 favorite off his win in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. In to challenge him included 2-1 second choice Rise Up, winner of the Jean Lafitte Stakes, the major local prep for the Jackpot, and 6-1 third choice Rankhasprivileges, winner of his debut last out at Keeneland.
Rise Up wins the Delta Jackpot
Jockey Gerard Melancon sent Rise Up to the lead first time by and he set fractions of 22.82, 46.30, and 1:11.94 over the fast main track while pressed by 24-1 Mighty Brown and 13-2 Casiguapo. Entering the stretch, Rise Up began to pull away from the field, getting 1 mile in 1:38.06, and cruised past the post 6 lengths ahead of Casiguapo in a stakes record time of 1:44.71. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to late-running Rankhasprivileges third, while favorite Coastline stumbled at the start and checked in 8th.
Left: Rise Up in the winner's circle. Trainer Tom Amoss said, "It helped a great deal that he was outside of horses and did not have horses breathing on him. I've been guilty so many times of taking horses with so much tactical speed and making him something he's not, maybe I almost did that today, but Gerard took it out of my hands and let him use his speed correctly and got us the win today. So he gets the gold star."
Right: Rise Up with his winner's blanket. Jockey Gerard Melancon said, "I knew we had a great horse coming out of the 10-hole," Melancon said. "I think going 1 1/16, the 10 hole is really a great spot. I had all kinds of options. I was like, ‘Well I don't want to get hung up in a speed duel with these.' If I'm going to go fast, I'd rather be by myself where maybe I can get a little breather. He came back to me and set his ears straight up and I was like, 'This is where I want you.' Around the turn, I said from here if they beat us, they're going to have to outrun us." Melancon is the only jockey to win the Delta Jackpot twice.
Left: Second place finisher Casiguapo. The 13-2 fourth choice stalked the pace in 3rd early under jockey Luis Saez but could not improve late, finishing second beaten 6 lengths. The Mario Morales trainee improved his record to 1 win, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 5 starts, earning $287,250 for owner All American Horses.
Right: Third place finisher Rankhasprivileges. The 6-1 third choice was unhurried 9th under jockey Robby Albarado but passed tired horses to get third beaten 7 3/4 lengths. The Ken McPeek trainee improved his record to 1 win and 1 third in 2 starts, earning $133,600 for owner Magdalena Racing (Susan McPeek).
Tepin wins the Delta Downs Princess Stakes
The distaff counterpart to the Jackpot is the $500,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies going 1 mile. Schuylerville (G3) winner Bahnah was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 7 off her win in the My Trusty Cat Stakes, the major local prep for the Princess. In to challenge her included 5-2 second choice Miss Behaviour, second in the Sharp Cat after winning the Matron (G2), and 3-1 third choice Concave, 9th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). 22-1 Zip On set the pace of 22.90 and 47.50 while pressed by Bahnah and Miss Behaviour. Into the lane, Bahnah took over through 3/4 in 1:12.50, but 7-2 fourth choice Tepin, fourth early, rallied past her to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:38.95. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to Concave third.
Tepin, the 7-2 fourth choice, raced in fourth for the first 3/4 mile under jockey Miguel Mena then put in a long sustained drive for the win. The Mark Casse trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 0 seconds, and 1 third in 4 starts, earning $342,084 for owner Robert Masterson. She also earned 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Ide Be Cool wins the Louisiana Legacy Stakes
A full field 9 Louisiana-bred juveniles went to post in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes over 1 mile. 4-5 favorite Ide Be Cool and jockey Chris Rosier set the early pace of 22.77, 47.93, and 1:13.69 while stalked by 3-1 second choice Mypalcharliebrown. At the 1/8 pole Mypalcharliebrown poked his head in front but Ide Be Cool battled back to win by a neck in 1:40.74. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to 10-1 My Kay Sara third.
Ide Be Cool is a perfect 3 for 3 lifetime so far, earning $129,600 for owner-trainer Henry Dunn.
All Woman wins the Delta Downs Jewel Stakes
The $150,000 Louisiana Jewel Stakes featured a field of 7 Louisiana-bred 2-year-old fillies going 1 mile. 6-1 Pledge Pin battled for the lead with 20-1 Streaming Live through fractions of 23.03, 47.41, and 1:14.17 while stalked by 9-10 favorite All Woman. Entering the lane All Woman ran by them 3 wide and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lenths over late-running 11-2 Glamoride in 1:41.69. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Pledge Pin third.
The $150,000 Treasure Chest Stakes featured a field of 7 older fillies and mares going 1 mile. 6-5 favorite Touch Magic and 3-1 third choice Livi Makenzie dueled on the lead through fractions of 23.11, 47.85, and 1:12.60 while staled by 83-1 longest shot Pretty Not. On the far turn 3-2 second choice Class Included, 5th early, circled the field 4 wide to win going away by 6 lengths over Livi Makenzie in 1:38.80. It was 3/4 length back to 64-1 Juliet Dear third, while favorite Touch Magic faded to fourth.
A field of 9 older horses contested the $125,000 Delta Mile Stakes at 1 mile around 2 turns of the 6 furlong oval. 39-1 Redhotrush was sent to a clear lead by jockey Tracy Hebert through opening fractions of 22.03 and 45.16 while stalked by 11-1 Grand Contender. On the far turn, Grand Contender easily took over through 3/4 in 1:10.45, opening up a 6 length lead at the 1/8 pole. 5-2 second choice Agent di Nozzi rallied from last early but Grand Contender finished 3 1/2 lengths in front in a new track record time of 1:36.89. It was a nose back to 2-1 favorite Uncaptured third.
Trainer Tom Amoss said, "This is horse is really athletic. On this kind of racetrack, going a route of ground, an athletic horse can really take advantage on the turns. I thought that's what (jockey) Gerard Melancon did on the racetrack and it worked out great."
Hip Four Sixtynine wins the Sam's Town Stakes
A field of 8 three-year-olds sprinted 7 furlongs in the $75,000 Sam's Town Stakes. 9-5 favorite Heitai and 2-1 second choice Black Bear contested the early pace through fractions of 22.40 and 45.78 before tiring from the extended duel. 8-1 Hip Four Sixtynine, 6th early, rallied 4 wide to get the lead at the 1/8 pole through 3/4 in 1:12.21, and drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths over 14-1 Runaway Stephen in 1:24.97. It was another neck back to 3-1 He's Had Enough third, while favorite Heitei faded to seventh.
The $75,000 Orleans Stakes featured 9 three-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs around 2 turns. 47-1 Blush With Reality battled for the lead with 7-2 Flashy Campaign through opening fractions of 22.74 and 47.00. Blush With Reality tired at the top of the lane allowing Flashy Campaign to inherit the lead through 3/4 in 1:12.44, but 3-1 Boss Barney's Babe, 5th early, came through between horses to win by 1 length in 1:25.46. It was a head back to 14-1 Quiet Success third, while 11-10 favorite Brilliant Rescue was 5th.
Left: Rise Up in the winner's circle. Trainer Tom Amoss said, "It helped a great deal that he was outside of horses and did not have horses breathing on him. I've been guilty so many times of taking horses with so much tactical speed and making him something he's not, maybe I almost did that today, but Gerard took it out of my hands and let him use his speed correctly and got us the win today. So he gets the gold star."
