DELTA DOWNS PREPARING FOR LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT ON SATURDAY

By Don Stevens —-

$150,000 LAPN CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS RICH CARD FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS –

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is gearing up for another rich race program on Saturday as the track hosts the 14th edition of Louisiana Premier Night. The 11-race program will feature 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses worth $850,000 in total purse money. First post time for the lucrative program is set for 5:40 pm Central Time.

Saturday’s featured race will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the 10th race on the program. This year’s Championship has attracted a full field of 10 including 2015 winner The Pickett Factor as well as Mageez, who took the B-Connected Stakes at Delta Downs on December 31. Graded stakes winner Mobile Bay is also part of the Championship field and a win would put him over the $1 million mark in career earnings.

The $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff field will include last year’s winner Forest Lake. The Jerry Delhomme trainee most recently finished a close second to Big World in the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds. Big World, a Tom Amoss trainee, will also try the Distaff after winning the Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs last October.

This year’s $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince has attracted two horses that have already won stakes races this season. Magic Vow was victorious in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy on Jackpot Day, November 19, and Freakonthelead pulled a 70-1 upset in the Pelican Stakes on January 21.

Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2017 in program order.

Race # Purse Stakes Race
Distance Age

2 $50,000 LAPN Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo &up FM
3 $50,000 LAPN Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
4 $50,000 LAPN Ladies Starter 1 mile 4yo & up FM
5 $100,000 LAPN Prince 1 mile 3yo
6 $100,000 LAPN Starlet 1 mile 3yo Fillies
7 $100,000 LAPN Matron 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
8 $100,000 LAPN Distaff 1 miles 4yo & up FM
9 $100,000 LAPN Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo & up
10 $150,000 LAPN Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
11 $50,000 LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up

In other activities on Louisiana Premier Night the track will give away 250 free t-shirts to commemorate the event. In order to receive the shirt fans just need to purchase a live racing program at the program stand in the OTB while supplies last.

There will also be a free handicapping contest offered with a first place prize of $750. Patrons who wish to participate will need to have a Prime Rewards card and be at least 21 years of age. The contest will take place in the OTB and the deadline to enter is post time for race 5, at approximately 7:30 pm.

For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ current season, which runs through March 11, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.