Delta Downs in Vinton, La., hosted the $100,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Saturday afternoon and the one-mile race for 2-year-olds had plenty of drama. The heavy favorite Kaely's Brother finished second under the wire but was awarded the win after the stewards disqualified Waita Minute Hayes for interference. It was the Brad Cox trainee's first win in stakes company after breaking his maiden at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on October 9.
The Jean Lafitte field of 10 was dispatched in good order before Indefensible took the early lead and volleyed with Dancin With Angels through fractional times of :23.25 for the opening quarter mile and :47.79 for the half. As the field approached the second turn, Waita Minute Hays launched a wide bid to take the lead after going three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.95 as Kaely's Brother followed him into the stretch while positioned at the rail.
Through the homestretch, Waita Minute Hayes began to drift into the path of Kaely's Brother. Inside the sixteenth pole, jockey Tim Thornton was forced to steady his mount and alter course late before finishing 2-1/2 lengths behind Waita Minute Hayes, and a head in front of third-place finisher Vodka Gimlet. As the horses pulled up after the wire, Thornton claimed foul against Waita Minute Hayes and jockey Ashley Broussard. The objection was held up and Waita Minute Hayes was disqualified from first and place second.
The final time of the Jean Lafitte was 1:27.72. The race was contested on a fast track.
The win by Kaely's Brother marked the second of his three-race career. He earned $60,000 for the effort which raised his bankroll to $110,737.
Bred in Kentucky by his owner Dean Maltzman, Kaely's Brother is a 2-year-old bay colt by Twirling Candy, out of the Yes It's True mare Policy of Truth.
Sent to the gate at odds of 3-5, Kaely's Brother paid $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.20 to show. Waita Minute Hayes was worth $5.40 to place and $4 to show. Vodka Gimlet returned $6.40 to show.
Delta Downs will now embark on a special week of racing which includes live racing on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, November 23 – 27. The track will be dark on Thanksgiving Thursday, November 25. The first post time each day next week will be at 12:55 pm.
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