Texcess wins $1 million Delta Jackpot

Paul G. Aguirre and Omar Aldabbagh's TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]) stalked

pacesetter Cherokee Path (Cherokee Run) in second before cruising to the lead on

the far turn and maintained a clear advantage through the stretch en route to

capturing Saturday's $1 million

Delta Jackpot S. at Delta Downs. Victor Espinoza

made the trip from California to ride the Aguirre-trained gelding, who captured the

second richest event for two-year-olds in North America when completing 1 1/16

miles over the fast track in 1:48 1/5.

Sent off the 7-5 favorite, Texcess returned $4.80, $3.40 and $2.60 and keyed

the $34 exacta with Closing Argument (Successful Appeal), who gamely held off

Anthony J (Tiger Ridge) by a nose for second while finishing 1 1/2 lengths back

of the winner at 6-1. Anthony J, who was off at 9-1, wound up five lengths clear

of fourth placer My Parade (Parade Ground), who was followed under the wire by

Cherokee Path, Funk (Unbridled's Song), Leaving on My Mind (Valid Expectations),

Accurate (Precise End), United (Dixie Union) and Major League (Magic Cat).

Purchased for $85,000 at the Barretts May two-year-old in training sale,

Texcess was bred in California by Ron Gomez and is out the Regal Classic mare

Danish Alamode. He has an unnamed yearling full brother and an unnamed weanling

full sister. The bay finished second in September's Barretts Juvenile S. when

making his career debut and then broke his maiden in the California Cup

Juvenile. An allowance victor over open company in his previous outing, Texcess

has now earned $725,427 from a 4-3-1-0 line.

On the Delta Jackpot undercard, Heiligbrodt Stable and Burning Day Farm's

PUNCH APPEAL (Successful Appeal) broke on top in the $250,000

Delta Princess S.

and led wire to wire, recording an easy 5 1/2-length decision for her fifth

stakes win of the year. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Donnie Meche,

the bay two-year-old filly opened up a three-length lead at the top of the

stretch and was never threatened by runner-up Summer Raven (Summer Squall).

A slight even-money second choice, Punch Appeal set splits of :23 3/5, :48

4/5 and 1:14 before stopping the teletimer in 1:40 2/5 for the mile. She paid

$4, $2.10 and $2.10. Summer Raven, who offered a late bid for runner-up honors

as the even-money favorite, finished four lengths better than Snipper Lou

(Fiend) in third. Joyous Song (American Chance), My Three Sisters (Defrere) and

Cash Counter (Top Account) came next.

Bred in Florida by Rosebrook Farms, Punch Appeal added Saturday's score to

victories in the Pocahontas S., Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S., J J's Dream S.

and Chipiski S. She now owns an overall mark of 9-6-0-1 with earnings of

$389,840. Punch Appeal is the third registered foal from the multiple

stakes-placed Okanagan Dawn (Two Punch).

Kagele Brothers Inc.'s INTELLIGENT MALE (Ride the Storm) proved best by 1 1/2

lengths in the $75,000

Sam's Town S., closing from off the pace to win for

conditioner Cole Norman. Winner of the Claiming Crown Jewel S. earlier this

year, the four-year-old gray gelding covered seven furlongs in 1:27 3/5 with

Tracy Hebert and was sent off the 5-2 third choice in the field of seven. His entrymate, Pie N Burger (Twining), was scratched.

The $75,000

Treasure Chest S. went to William Schettine's homebred SO MUCH

MORE (Chimes Band), who earned her first stakes win with a front-running trip

under jockey Guy Smith. The Josie Carroll-trained five-year-old mare rewarded

backers with $24 at 11-1 and traveled seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5.