12/7: DeD (G3) $1MM Jackpot
 

8th (9:47) Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot S. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 2 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $1,000,000

1 Betatron Mena M 117 L
2 Golden Yank Melancon G 119 L
3 Overextended Valenzuela P A 117 Blk-On L
4 Z Humor Gomez G K 117 L
5 Cudjo Bourque C C 117 L
6 Cave's Valley Dominguez R A 119 L
7 Racecar Rhapsody Albarado R J 117 L
8 St. Joe Bejarano R 117 L
9 Turf War Borel C H 119 L
10 Take the Money Bridgmohan S X 117 L

Cave's Valley :cool:

Top two will have a spot in the starting gate at Churchill in May if they want it. Talk about a broken system. Almost makes the BCS look functional.

Z Humor

1 million dollar G3...unbelievable. They hand out the upgrades like water. NTRA needs to address this

$ 80 exacta 8-7
$ 20 Tri 8-7-2
How I am going to blow a bill on the race.

What do you think of Golden Yank in here? He won everything at Remington. Crushed the field at this track his last outing. This gelding seems to like the course.

BF's BS

Cave's Valley may be the talent in the race. Dominguez shouldn't get a chance to steal the race out front with the presence of Betatron. May be best from 7f to a mile.

Racecar Rhapsody carries top form forward. Not a huge fan of the pedigree, Yet last was fairly competitive + willing finish vs. better at the distance.

St. Joe adds talent and speed. If others are patient this one could take the baton from Betatron. Is he adding a tongue tie or what? Has yet to rate, steps up in distance.

Overextended hasn't really shown any big time talent. On the surface(excuse Pun) he is an ordinary animal with an extraordinary $$ invested. May be a better animal on real dirt. Consider in exotics.

Betatron is a sprinter. Mena likely gets an opportunity shoot the rail , carry them wide into turn 1(likely forcing Dominguez to take back , possibly causing trouble with St. Joe) and preferably open up. Not a win contender but has a chance to hang around for the tri if all goes way early.
EDIT - LOOKS LIKE THE START IS PRETTY FAR BACK FROM THE TURN. HORSES SHOULD SETTLE BEFORE TURN.


Wouldn't be shocked to hear that Z Humor had some throat surgery to clear up the breathing after this race. One of the more impressive "derby prep" pedigrees. Without inside information or even a clocker for recent work, he is an unknown / tossing from smaller exactas.

Golden Yank is a solid local horse. If Betatron takes the field wide he should sit a nice trip. Could get third.

Broken system? Boyd Gaming has created great event in southwest Louisiana. This is fifth running of Delta Jackpot. Gaming companies who owe racetracks (Boyd, Harrah's, Pinnacle) have outperformed racetracks that have tried to introduce gaming (Magna, CDI).

Credentials of 10 entries in this race are solid. Virtual allstar jockey colony riding here as well -- Gomez, Albarado, Borel, Bejarano, Bridgmohan. Will first graded 3YO race at Gulfstream draw such competitive field?

Next year's Delta Princess will run as Grade III event. Sam's Town draws journeyman Jonesboro who defend his 2006 victory here.

So, stop hatin' on 'da bayou... and come pass a good time! ahhh-eeee

48 hours to Delta Jackpot & more...
 

Outstanding draw yesterday -- looking forward to great night at Delta Downs!

Two starters from Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Overextended (P. Valenzuela) and Z Humor (Gomez) joined by undefeated Cave's Valley (Dominguez) and Iroquois show horse, St. Joe (Bejarano). Jackpot prep, Jean Lafitte Stakes, returns two runners, winner Golden Yank (Melancon) and third-place finisher Take The Money (Bridgmohan). Cajun favorite jockeys, Borel and Albarado return to Bayou State and will ride Turf War and Racecar Rhapsody, respectively. Others include Betatron (Mena) who ran fourth in Saratoga Special and Cudjo (C.C. Bourque) who chase Cave's Valley in two Delaware Park stakes.

Other stakes -- Delta Princess, Sam's Town, and Treasure Chest should generate excitement in southwest Louisiana as well. $100,000 guaranteed all-stakes Pick 4 will highlight betting menu.

Come pass a good time with us down the bayou Friday night! ahhh-eeeee

"bull ring": Main Track = 6 furlongs
Distance from last turn to finish line = 1 furlong.

I have no problem with the race. I have a problem with the Derby selection criteria which gives more weight to this race than to the Wood Memorial or Santa Anita Derby.

Problem is not grading and problem is not Boyd Gaming. PROBLEM is NYRA and Magna do not put as much back into certain races. Yes, current Derby system rewards Delta Jackpot winner. But, it reward ever other graded winner as well. Should Oaklawn Park increase purses in its graded 3YO series? CDI and Louisiana Derby? Magna with key 3YO preps at Gulfstream & Santa Anita?

Hasn't purse for Wood Memorial been cut in recent times? Santa Anita Derby is more regional than Delta Jackpot with most of its starters never having ever raced outside of California in recent times.

Horse racing fans outside of largest venues deserve opportunity to see top flight horses compete. If Kentucky Derby winner emerges from Jackpot, whole paradigm may shift!

Headed out for trip to Delta Downs... hope to have great report when I return. Remember, you can go to DeD website, www.deltadowns.com and watch live video stream tonight.

Good Luck to All today & especially tonight...

he's a longshot (20-1) and is slow on the TG numbers, but I'd take look at Turf War (Grasshopper's full bro). This will be his first time on dirt and his bro liked the dirt much better than poly.

Amen!!! Look at the past three years at Oaklawn. Smarty, Alex and Curlin. Hot Springs, AR is back on the map. For those of us who live great distances from "A" tracks, it's these exciting graded stakes races that let's us get to see the "big boys." (With a small b.)

21 MTP

St. Joe is 19-1.
Turf war is 60-1!
ZHumor isn't taking as much money as you would expect at third choice 4-1 but Betatron is taking more money than I expected.

I would have taken them both down.

For sure Gomez..No doubt...'bout that one ..Unbelievable how he can bullshit his way out of trouble with stewards.Really,what does he haveto do to get taken down?

I like Gomez, but that was an uncharacteristically bad ride. What the hell was his big hurry on the backstretch?

On the fouls.....Gomez drifted for sure but the 9 came in dramatically as well. Of course, it would help if their head on wasn't at an angle but it's more important to give $1 million away on a fake race than spend $5K to get an actual head on. That is assuming they even understand the principle of a head on shot.