Cafe Du Monde Serves Up A Delicious Victory In The Louisiana Legacy At Delta Downs

By Don Stevens —-

MOCITO ROJO DOMINATES IN THE $75,000 DELTA MILE STAKES –

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs capped off its fifth week of live racing on Saturday night with two stakes races. The $100,000 Louisiana Legacy for 2-year-old Louisiana-breds was won by Café Du Monde and the $75,000 Delta Mile for 3-year-olds and up was annexed by Mocito Rojo.

The win by Café Du Monde came in his local and stakes debut under jockey Gerard Melancon, who also won the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel on Friday night with Goodprofit. Café Du Monde is owned by Diamond Racing, Inc. and Jay and Joan Janssen and is conditioned by Leo G. Gabriel, Jr.

The trip that Café Du Monde took to victory was an interesting one as Melancon took his mount back early while Musada set the early pace of 23.42 seconds for the opening quarter mile, 48.20 for the half and 1:13.60 for three quarters. While racing up the backstretch the eventual winner found racing room at the rail and rushed up into contention before angling out and running down Musada turning for home. In the stretch, he put away Musada but had to hold off a late charge by Jimi’s a Star, who wound up two lengths behind the winner in second at the finish line while Musada stay for third, another 2-1/2 behind the runner-up.

Café Du Monde covered the one-mile distance of the Legacy in a time of 1:40.95 over a fast track.

The win by Café Du Monde was the second of his three-race career and he earned $60,000 for the effort. He has now won $96,450 during his brief career.

Bred in Louisiana by Natalie Montgomery and Jim Montgomery, Café Du Monde is a 2-year-old dark bay or brown colt by New Year’s Day, out of the Hennessy mare Java Jolt.

Sent to the gate as the heavy favorite at odds of 1-5, Café Du Monde returned $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.20 to show. Jimi’s a Star was worth $5 to place and $3.60 to show. Musada paid $6.20 to show.

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This year’s Delta Mile featured a field of seven and in the end, it was Wayne T. Davis’ Mocito Rojo who proved much the best under jockey Filemon Rodriguez. The Shane Wilson trainee defeated Line Judge by 3-1/4 lengths with Secret Passage finished another 3-1/2 length back in third.

Mocito Rojo broke from the outside post position in the Delta Mile and was quickly placed in a stalking position behind pacesetter Midnight Ruler as the later clicked off fractional times of 23.63 seconds for the opening quarter mile, 47.90 for the half and 1:12.34 for three quarters.

As the field approached the second turn Rodriguez gave his mount the cue and he responded by drawing clear in the upper-stretch and opening up a five-length lead before being geared down late when the outcome was not in doubt. Mocito Rojo covered the eight furlongs in 1:38.03.

The win by Mocito Rojo was the 12th of his 18-race career. He earned another $45,000 for the effort on Saturday and now owns a lifetime bankroll of $266,300. His preference for the Delta Downs surface is clearly evident by his record of six wins from eight starts in Vinton.

Mocito Rojo is a 4-year-old chestnut gelding by Mutadda, out of the Orientate mare Blushing Royale. He was bred in Kentucky by Paul Van Doren & Andrena Van Doren.

Delta Downs’s sixth week of racing will feature a pair of daytime programs. On Tuesday and Wednesday, November 20 and 21, the track will feature post times of 1:35 pm before going dark for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday. Regular post times of 5:35 pm will return for racing next Friday and Saturday.

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.