The $100,000 Jean Lafitte provided race fans at Delta Downs with plenty of fireworks Friday evening when Lynne M. Boutte's Spinning Aces just edged out Awesome Ruta and Good Like Magic to win the seven-furlong test for 2-year-olds in a thriller.
The Jean Lafitte was one of two stakes for juveniles carded and was followed three races later by the $100,000 My Trusty Cat for fillies, which unlike the Jean Lafitte, turned into a runaway for Willis Horton Racing's homebred Tapit Jenallie.
In the Jean Lafitte, Spinning Aces broke well before stalking the early pace set by longshot Gone Elvis, who covered the opening quarter mile in :22.95 while pressed by Good Like Magic. Nearing the half-mile mark Good Like Magic put away Gone Elvis, who clocked the half mile in :47.58 but then had to deal with the eventual winner. Good Like Magic and Spinning Aces ran side-by-side turning for home before Spinning Aces forged a narrow lead under Joel Dominguez after going six furlongs in 1:14.18.
Through the homestretch a late challenger appeared on the scene in the form of 42-1 longshot Awesome Ruta, who launched a stout rally before coming up a neck short of the winner at the finish line. Good Like Magic held the third spot another neck behind the runner-up in the field of nine.
Spinning Aces covered the distance in 1:27.86 on a sloppy (sealed) track while making his stakes debut.
The Louisiana-bred Hard Aces gelding has won two of his three career starts. He earned $60,000 for his win against open company in the Jean Lafitte and has a bankroll of $99,540.
Bred by Gerald L. Averett Jr., Spinning Aces is out of the Afternoon Deelites mare Just Alex. He is conditioned by Allen Landry.
Sent to the starting gate at odds of 8-1, Spinning Aces paid $19.80 to win.
In the My Trusty Cat, even-money favorite Tapit Jenallie was ridden to victory by Richard Eramia. The Eddie Milligan Jr. trainee came from off the pace to score a decisive 5 1/2-length victory, her first in stakes company after winning her debut Sept. 30 at Remington Park.
After breaking cleanly from post position two, Tapit Jenallie took back off the early pace set by Kant Resist It, who covered the opening quarter mile in :22.91 and the half mile in :47.27. As the field entered the second turn Tapit Jenallie started gaining on the leader and eventually slipped through a gap at the rail to take command turning for home. She hit the three-quarter mark in 1:14.13 while widening her margin through the lane.
At the finish line Tapit Jenallie was all by herself while Kant Resist It settled for second. Noriskit Nobiscuit was no threat to the top pair, finishing another two lengths behind the runner-up.
Tapit Jenallie covered seven furlongs in 1:27.91.
With first-place prize of $60,000, Tapit Jenallie raised her lifetime bankroll to $80,094.
Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Tapit Jenallie is a chestnut filly by Tapit out of the War Front mare Take Charge Tressa.
Tapit Jenallie paid $4 to win.
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