Jackpot tops stakes-packed program at Delta Downs

With a $1 million purse and Grade 3 status, the

Delta Downs Jackpot S. serves as an excellent steppingstone for Kentucky

Derby (G1) hopefuls, and Saturday marks the eighth running of the 1 1/16-mile

event in Vinton, Louisiana. An overflow field of 12 two-year-olds, including the likes

of BLUE LASER (Bluegrass Cat), SWEET DUCKY (Pulpit), RUSH NOW (Tiznow), CLASSIC

LEGACY (Macho Uno) and GOURMET DINNER (Trippi), have been entered, but only 10

will be allowed to start.

After being previously held under the lights, the Delta Jackpot will switch

to Saturday afternoon, with an estimated 4:15 p.m. (CST) local post time, and

it's the centerpiece of a dynamite 11-race card that contains eight stakes and

more than $2.4 million in purses.

Grey S. (Can-G3) winner Blue Laser has been installed as the 3-1 favorite on

the morning line. The Mark Casse-trained colt will bring a two-race winning

streak into his dirt debut and picks up the services of Shaun Bridgmohan. The

chestnut is a WinStar Farm homebred, the same owner/breeder of 2009 Delta Downs

Jackpot winner Rule (Roman Ruler) and 2010 Kentucky Derby victor Super Saver.

Sweet Ducky, a sharp four-length scorer in the October 23 Seton Hall

University S., will make his graded bow for Kelly Breen following two straight

stakes wins at Monmouth Park. Joe Bravo will retain the mount on the dark bay

colt, who is listed as the 4-1 second favorite on the morning line. Delaware

Park invader Rush Now comes next at 9-2. Trained by Tony Dutrow, the bay colt

broke his maiden by 13 3/4 lengths two starts back and exits a 3 3/4-length romp

in the October 9 Dover S. He'll get a new pilot in Robby Albarado.

Classic Legacy suffered his first career setback when finishing a close third

in the Grey last time, but the gray colt has transferred to Hall of Fame trainer

Bob Baffert and is eligible to improve upon his last outing. He receives a rider

switch to Joe Talamo and is the co-fourth choice on the morning line at 6-1.

Gourmet Dinner, who recorded victories in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed divisions

of the Florida Stallion series, is also 6-1. The Steve Standridge trainee will

look to rebound from a runner-up effort as the odds-on favorite in the In

Reality.

New York-bred BUG JUICE (Mingun), a scintillating 10-length winner of the

October 2 New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes for Bruce Levine, will

bring a three-race winning skein into his first start against open rivals, and

turf stakes winners ACES N KINGS (Jet Phone) and DREAMSRUNWILD (Offlee Wild)

will both switch back to the main track for their connections. Stakes winner

CLUBHOUSE RIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]) and multiple stakes-placed DECISIVE MOMENT

(With Distinction) round out the main body of the field. JUSTIN PHILLIP (First

Samurai) and TRUBS (First Samurai) will both need to draw in from the

also-eligibles list.

The $500,000

Delta Princess S. (G3) attracted a nice field of nine juvenile fillies,

including PROMISE ME A CAT (D'wildcat), who exits an impressive five-length

tally in the Sweet Patootie S. at Belmont Park. The Carlos Martin-trained dark

bay rolled to a 8 1/4-length decision over maiden special weight rivals two back

and will make her first start at two turns Saturday in the one-mile Princess.

Javier Castellano will be in to ride.

Other contenders include FISCAL POLICY (Wildcat Heir), a 6 1/4-length winner

of the Bassinet S. in her last outing for Tom Amoss; NIJI'S GRAND GIRL (Candy

Ride [Arg]), who exits a good-looking maiden score at Churchill Downs for Kenny

McPeek; and local victress GRANDACIOUS (Grand Slam) from the Bret Calhoun

stable.

The $125,000

Treasure Chest S. came up deep with BRIECAT (Adcat), LUNA VEGA

(Malibu Moon) and WYNNING RIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]). A total of eight distaffers

will square off in the one-mile test, and multiple Grade 2 queen Briecat exits a

wire-to-wire score in the grassy Las Palmas H. (G2) at Oak Tree at Hollywood on

October 31. Luna Vega will make her first start since

finishing second to subsequent Grade 1 winner Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon) in the

June 26 Lighthouse S., and Wynning Ride posted a nice win in the Iowa Distaff

two back and is Grade 1-placed on dirt for Baffert.

The $125,000

Delta Mile S. will feature nine horses, including Z HUMOR (Distorted Humor),

who dead-heated for the win in the 2007 Delta Jackpot and exits an encouraging

third in the Michael G. Schaefer Mile S. for Steve Asmussen. Maxxam Gold Cup

winner and Texas Mile (G3) third-placer FIFTEEN LOVE (Point Given) also merits

serious respect.

Louisiana-bred juveniles will be spotlighted in the $250,000

Louisiana Legacy S. and $250,000

Louisiana

Jewel S. And the $60,000

Sam's

Town S. and $60,000

Orleans

S., both seven-furlong open sprints for three-year-olds, complete the stakes

action.