LA MISTAKE FLAWLESS WHILE WINNING THE AZALEA STAKES
By Don Stevens —-
La Mistake; Coady Photos
INSPEIGHTOFYOU TAKES
THE OWNER APPRECIATION DISTAFF AT DELTA DOWNS
– JOCKEY GERARD MELANCON WINS BOTH STAKES RACES ON THE PROGRAM –
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs kicked off its closing weekend of live Thoroughbred racing on Friday night with an 11-race program that included two stakes races, the $80,000 Azalea for 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies, and the $80,000 Owners Appreciation Distaff for older fillies and mares.
The Azalea was won impressively by Cantrell Family Partnership’s La Mistake with jockey Gerard Melancon in the saddle for his first of two stakes tallies on the night. The Brett Brinkman trainee pressed the early pace set by longshot Ms Sassy Butclassy as she carved out fractional times of 23.25 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.71 for the half in the 6 ½-furlong test for horses who had never won a stakes race.
As the field of 10 entered the second turn of the race, La Mistake took the lead and began to draw clear. In the home-stretch she held a comfortable lead over Yes Gorgeous, who was a game second but no threat to the winner. On the finish line, La Mistake was 3-3/4 lengths in front of Yes Gorgeous while Fame Feather was another 6-1/4 lengths behind in third. La Mistake covered the distance in 1:20.13 while running on a fast track.
The win by La Mistake was the third of her four-race career. She earned $48,000 for the effort and now owns a bankroll of $96,600.
Bred in Louisiana by her owner, La Mistake is a 3-year-old bay daughter of Bind, out of the Lion Heart mare Guculka Ksenya.
Sent to the gate at odds of 4-5, La Mistake paid $3.80 to win, $3 to place and $2.10 to show. Yes Gorgeous was worth $5 to place and $3 to show. Fame Feather returned $2.60 to show.
Melancon’s other stakes victory came with Maggi Moss’s Inspeightofyou, who used a similar running style to La Mistake in the $80,000 Owner Appreciation Distaff at one mile. After breaking alertly, the Tom Amoss trainee stalked the early pace set by Vieja Luna before taking command in the upper-stretch. In the drive for the wire Inspeightofyou pulled 3-1/4 lengths clear of Babybluesbdancing, who rallied for second, while Hyper Piper was another length behind in third at the finish line. Inspeightofyou finished the eight furlongs in a time of 1:40.07.
Inspeightofyou has now won four of 15 career starts. She earned $48,000 for her exploits on Saturday and now boasts a career bankroll of $133,240.
Bred in British Columbia by Peter Redekop BC Ltd., Inspeightofyou is a 4-year-old dark bay or brown filly by Speightstown, out of the Belong to Me mare Shadow of Mine.
Dispatched at odds of 2-1 on the toteboard, Inspeightofyou returned $6.60 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Babybluesbdancing was worth $4 to place and $2.40 to show. Hyper Piper paid $2.20 to show.
Delta Downs will conclude its 2017-18 Thoroughbred season on Saturday night with a special 12-race program that begins at 5:25 pm. The card will include two stakes races, the $80,000 Pelican and the $80,000 Owner Appreciation Cup.
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.