MOBILE BAY WINS SECOND STRAIGHT LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

By Don Stevens —-

PACIFIC PINK ROLLS LATE TO CAPTURE THE DISTAFF –

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the 15th edition of Louisiana Premier Night on Saturday and the fans who attended the rainy evening program were treated to 12-race card that included 10 stakes races worth total purse money of more than $1 million. The featured event on the big night for Louisiana-bred horses was the $170,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship, which was won for the second consecutive year by Tigertail Ranch’s Mobile Bay.

Under jockey Diego Saenz the Victor Arceneaux trainee tracked the early pace set by Temprano, who carved out fractional times of 24.65 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.77 for the half. As the field of six entered the second turn of the 1 1/16-mile test for older horses, Mobile Bay took command after traveling three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.08, opening up a lead of nearly two lengths. But the race was far from over.

In the homestretch, Mobile Bay drifted out while Underpressure began to cut into the leader’s advantage stride by stride while hugging the rail under Gerard Melancon. At the finish line only a nose separated the rivals with Mobile Bay taking home the winner’s trophy. Social Misfit wound up third another 5-1/2 lengths behind the top pair. The final time in the Louisiana Premier Night Championship was 1:46.49. Each race on the rich program was contested over a sealed track listed as sloppy.

Mobile Bay has now won 12 of 27 lifetime starts. He earned $102,000 for his win on Saturday and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $1,198,440. The dark bay or brown horse went over the $1 million mark in career earnings with his win the Championship last year.

Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Mobile Bay is a 6-year-old by Lone Star Special, out of the Out of Place mare Tranquility Bay.

Mobile Bay was sent to the gate at odds of 3-5 and returned $3.40 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Underpressure was worth $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Social Misfit paid $4.20 to show.

In other stakes activity on the program it was Pacific Pink winning the $145,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff under jockey Colby Hernandez, who got a riding double on the card. Pacific Pink is trained by Edward J. Johnston and is owned by Keith Plaisance.

This year’s $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint was taken by Ivery Sisters Racing’s Monte Man, who was ridden to victory by Gerard Melancon. Monte Man is trained by Ron Faucheux.

Jockey Roberto Morales notched a riding triple on the special night of racing included two stakes scores. He booted home Gladyousawme in the $120,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince for owner Klein Racing and trainer Brad Cox. He also made it to the winner’s circle in the $120,000 Louisiana Premier Night Matron aboard the Larry Jones trainee Ours to Run, who is owned by Colonel Thoroughbreds LLC.

The $120,000 Louisiana Premier Night Starlet was annexed by Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Remember Daisy, who was ridden to victory by Mitchell Murrill. Remember Daisy is conditioned by Gary Scherer.

The Phillip Dison trainee Zyanara pulled a 28-1 upset in winning the $70,000 Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Starter. She was ridden to victory by Alfredo Contreras and is owned by Indian Creek Thoroughbred Farms, LLC.

The $70,000 Louisiana Premier Night Gentleman Starter was taking by Theoryintopractice, who was piloted by Colby Hernandez and is trained by Corale Richards. Theoryintopractice is owned by Courtney Barousse.

Elegant Idea took the $60,000 Louisiana Premier Night Bon Temps Starter with jockey Odilon Martinez riding for Delta Downs leading trainer Karl Broberg. End Zone Athletics, Inc. owns Elegant Idea.

And finally, it was River Bobcat who won the $60,000 Louisiana Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter under jockey Timothy Thornton. The Eduardo Ramirez trainee is owned by Jacqueline Savoy.

Delta Downs will kick off its 18th week of live racing on Wednesday night with a 10-race program that begins at 5:40 pm. The current season runs through March 10.

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracingcom. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

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.