SUNSET WISH CRUISES TO VICTORY IN THE TAKE CHARGE BRANDI STAKES AT DELTA DOWNS

By Don Stevens —-

Sunset Wish; Coady Photography

OXFORD COMMA CONTINUES HER DOMINANCE AT DELTA IN THE ORLEANS –

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted a pair of stakes races Friday night headed by the $75,000 Take Charge Brandi Stakes, which was won by Godolphin, LLC’s Sunset Wish under jockey Tim Thornton.

Sunset Wish, who is trained by Michael Stidham, used a perfect trip in the 7 ½-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies as she sat behind a speed duel featuring race favorite Taylor’s Spirit and Know What I Mina. That pair volleyed for the lead through opening fractions of 23.06 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.21 for the half before Know What I Mina checked out and Taylor’s Spirit opened up a 1-1/2 length lead. At that point Sunset Wish began a charge at the leader.

In the upper-stretch Taylor’s Spirit was challenged by Sunset Wish who pulled away from her rival and reported home 2-3/4 lengths in front at the wire. Cover Charged rallied in the stretch to be third, another 2-3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. Sunset Wish covered the distance over a fast track in 1:34.65.

The win by Sunset Wish was the third of her five-race career. She earned $45,000 for the effort and now owns a lifetime bankroll of $90,680.

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Sunset Wish is a 3-year-old gray filly by Malibu Moon, out of the Storm Cat mare Burgundy Ice.

Sunset Wish was sent to the gate as the third choice in a field of eight and returned $9.60 to win, $4.40 to place and $4.60 to show. Taylor’s Spirit was worth $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Cover Charge paid $10.60 to show.

The other big race on the program was the $50,000 Orleans Stakes for 4-year-old and up fillies and mares sprinting five furlongs. The event was won by the heavy favorite Oxford Comma, who was ridden to victory by Gerard Melancon.

Oxford Comma, who is owned by Sandra New and conditioned by Tom Amoss, used a quick turn of foot out of the gate to challenge pacesetter Fairwayngreen but could not get the lead until she reached the homestretch. It was at that point she dug in gamely to hold off her tenacious rival through the stretch and win by a neck on the finish line. Shes Our Fastest rallied from far back to be third, another two lengths behind the top pair.

The final time in the Orleans Stakes for Oxford Comma was 59.03 seconds.

Oxford Comma has now won five of her six starts at Delta Downs and nine of 12 starts overall. She earned $30,000 for her triumph on Friday and now boasts a career bankroll of $254,390.

Bred in Kentucky by John O’Meara, Oxford Comma is a 4-year-old bay filly by Majesticperfection, out of the Lord Carson mare Oxford Joy.

The wagering public made Oxford Comma the 3-10 favorite on the toteboard and she returned $2.60 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Fairwayngreen paid $5.20 to place and $3 to show. Shes Our Fastest was worth $3 to show.

Delta Downs will wrap up its 12th week of live racing on Saturday night with another 10-race program set to begin at 5:25 pm CT. The track will host two stakes races on the card including the $75,000 Big Drama and the $50,000 Sam’s Town.

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. 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.