Delta Downs offers the second richest race for juveniles in North America
Saturday, the $1 million Delta Jackpot S., and a well-matched field of 10
has been entered for the 1 1/16-mile contest in Louisiana. Leading contenders
include FUNK (Unbridled’s Song), UNITED (Dixie Union), LEAVING ON MY MIND (Valid
Expectations), TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]) and CHEROKEE PATH (Cherokee Run).
Funk has never finished off the board in four lifetime starts for trainer
Todd Pletcher and exits a good runner-up finish in the Laurel Futurity (G3) in
his stakes debut. Eddie Martin Jr. has the mount. United, who placed in two
stakes events earlier in his career, earned his black-type score in impressive
style last out, taking the Pennsylvania Nursery S. by 5 1/2 lengths. The George
Weaver-trained colt will have the services of Gerald Melancon. Leaving on My
Mind reeled off four straight stakes wins, including the Jean Lafitte S. at
Delta, before finishing third as the heavy favorite last time in the Sam Houston
Texas Juvenile S. The Danny Phish charge will attempt to return to the winner’s
circle with jockey Roman Chapa.
Texcess is another top threat, having taken the California Cup Juvenile by
six lengths prior to defeating open allowance rivals at Hollywood Park in his last
outing. Victor Espinoza comes in from Southern California to ride for trainer
Paul Aguirre. Cherokee Path will be making his stakes bow in the Delta Jackpot,
which has been upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2005. The bay colt exits a sharp 3
3/4-length allowance score at Churchill Downs for trainer Tom Amoss.
The complete Delta Jackpot field, in post order with riders, is MAJOR LEAGUE
(Magic Cat), Corey Lanerie; Leaving on My Mind; United; MY PARADE (Parade
Ground), Filemon Rodriguez; Funk; Texcess; Cherokee Path, Guy Smith; ANTHONY J.
(Tiger Ridge), Jose Velez Jr.; CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal), Cornelio
Velasquez; and ACCURATE (Precise End), Norberto Arroyo Jr.
Funk, Cherokee Path and Anthony J. will all carry 117 pounds, the rest 119.
The $250,000
Delta Princess S. will be held two races earlier at a mile and features six juvenile fillies. PUNCH APPEAL (Successful Appeal), winner of the
Pocahontas S. at Churchill in her last start, is a four-time stakes winner
overall and could go favored for trainer Steve Asmussen. However, she figures to
face a stiff challenge from the Pletcher-trained SUMMER RAVEN (Summer Squall),
who ships in off a two-length tally in the Tempted S. (G3) at Aqueduct. Both
fillies will carry 121 pounds, their rivals 118.
Delta Downs will also host a pair of $75,000 stakes on the undercard, the
seven-furlong Treasure Chest S. for fillies and mares and the seven-furlong
Sam’s Town S. for three-year-olds and up.