BITSY’S AFLEET RALLIES TO WIN THE PELICAN STAKES

By Don Stevens —-

Bitsy’s Afleet; Coady Photography

MIDNIGHT RULER WIRES THE FIELD IN
THE OWNER APPRECIATION CUP AT DELTA DOWNS

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs capped off its 2017-18 Thoroughbred season on Saturday night with a 12-race program that included the last two stakes races of the meeting. The $80,000 Pelican Stakes was won by Earl and Rose Hernandez’s Bitzy’s Afleet and the $80,000 Owner Appreciation Cup was taken by I. P. C. Stables, LLC’s Midnight Ruler.

Bitsy’s Afleet’s effort in the Pelican Stakes came with a masterful ride by jockey Marcelino Pedroza, who sat well off a rapid early pace set by Top Money and Grand Luwegee. That pair carved out fractional times of 23.20 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.82 for the half before clicking off three-quarters in 1:12.97. That set things up perfectly for Bitsy’s Afleet who took command at the top of the homestretch and drew clear for a decisive 2-1/2 length victory over Grand Luwegee with Double Star finishing another 3-3/4 lengths back in third. The final time for the Sam B. David, Jr. trainee in the 6 ½-furlong race was 1:19.69 over a fast track.

The win marked Bitsy’s Afleet’s third in four lifetime starts. He earned $48,000 for the effort and now has a career bankroll of $110,400.

Bitsy’s Afleet is a 3-year-old dark bay or brown gelding by Northern Afleet, out of the Ford Every Stream mare Streamin Bitsy. He was bred in Louisiana by his owners.

Sent to the gate at odds of 4-5, Bitsy’s Afleet paid $3.80 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Grand Luwegee was worth $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show. Double Star paid $4 for the show.

Midnight Ruler’s win in the Owner Appreciation Cup came as a surprise to many as the Tim Dixon trainee was sent to the gate at odds of more than 30-1 and went wire-to-wire under jockey Rico Flores. Bellarmine finished second, three lengths behind the winner in the one-mile affair for older horses. Great Minds finished third, another 1-1/2 lengths back. The final time for Midnight Ruler was 1:38.97.

Midnight Ruler has now won eight of 29 career starts and earned a total of $175,428 after taking home $48,000 for Saturday night’s effort.

Bred in Arkansas by Sunny Elaine Shepard, Midnight Ruler is a 5-year-old bay gelding by Sonny Dom’s Day, out of the Winthrop mare Mistress Winny.

There was plenty of light on the tote board after Midnight Ruler hit the finish line as he paid $62.80 to win, $23.60 to place and $13.60 to show. Bellarmine returned $10.40 to place and $6.20 to show. Great Minds paid $9.20 to show.

Delta Downs will now be dark until its 2018 American Quarter Horse Season gets underway on April 20. The 46-day meeting will run through July 7 with live racing conducted each Wednesday through Saturday night at 6:15 pm.

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.