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Delta Downs’ Louisiana Premier Day Includes 10 Stakes Races On Feb. 5

Delta Downs in Vinton, La. will host its richest race program of the season on Saturday, Feb. 5, when the track will award $933,000 in total purse money throughout 11 races, included 10 stakes, all for Louisiana-bred horses. The event is called Louisiana Premier Day, and this year marks the 19th renewal of the event which will kick off with a special first post time of 12 noon.

The featured race on the card will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the 10th race on the program. This year's Championship attracted a full field of 12, which includes two also eligible runners.

The Championship is guaranteed to have a new winner this year. Underpressure, who has won the last two editions of the race, was not entered this year. The lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday's feature is Keith Plaisance's Langs Day, who won the Gold Cup at Delta Downs on October 30 impressively before finishing a hard closing second in a tough allowance race last time out on January 12.

The Championship field also includes Kendel D. Standlee's Izzy's Baby Boy (5-1), who most recently won a dramatic B Connected Stakes on New Year's Day; Robert Asaro Enterprises, Inc's Maga Man (8-1), who comes into the event with the highest career earnings mark of $289,480; and the Sam B. David, Jr. trainee Jax Man (6-1), who ran second, only a neck behind Izzy's Baby Boy, in the B Connected.

Fans will also be in for a treat when the $100,00 Louisiana Premier Day Matron rolls around as Grade 2 winner Cilla takes on several rivals in the five-furlong dash for older fillies and mares. The Brett Brinkman trainee and daughter of the great California Chrome is the solid 6-5 favorite as she goes for her seventh career win and attempts to add to her lofty $416,000 bankroll.

Another race that will get plenty of attention will be the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Day Starlet. The one-mile event will be a rematch between 5-2 morning line favorite Free Like a Girl and Medley. Medley narrowly defeated Free Like a Girl in the $100,000 Louisiana Lassie Stakes at Fair Grounds on December 11. But Medley has never raced at Delta Downs and Free Like A Girl is undefeated in Vinton with two stakes tallies in as many starts earlier this meet. On October 22 she romped by 18-1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel and on November 19 she scored another impressive win in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat.

In addition to the many local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Day, there are also some nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, as well as Karl Broberg, Tom Amoss, W. Bret Calhoun and many others.

Delta Downs will offer the DRF Bets $50,000 Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4 wager on the Louisiana Premier Day program. The special wager will take place on race 8 – 11, which includes the afternoon's richest race, the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship serving as the penultimate leg. The special wager will also include an ultra-low takeout of just 12%.

Delta Downs will also welcome a special guest to its simulcast program during Louisiana Premier Day. Nationally known horse racing analyst and commentator Martha Claussen will join track announcer Don Stevens on the simulcast show as a co-host, handicapper and trackside reporter following the major stakes races.

Listed below are each Louisiana Premier Day race in program order.

Race # Purse Stakes Race Distance Age

1 $50,000 LAPD Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM

2 $100,000 LAPD Matron 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM

3 $38,000 (La-bred Maidens) 7-1/2 furlongs 3yo

4 $50,000 LAPD Ragin Cajun Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up

5 $100,000 LAPD Starlet 1 mile 3yo FM

6 $60,000 LAPD Ladies Starter 1 mile 4yo & up

7 $100,000 LAPD Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo & up

8 $125,000 LAPD Distaff 1 mile 4yo & up FM

9 $100,000 LAPD Prince 1 mile 3yo

10 $150,000 LAPD Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up

11 $60,000 LAPD Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be awarding two (2) $1,000 college scholarships via a drawing that will take place on Louisiana Premier Day.

Entries for the LTBA drawing will be taken at a designated booth between 11 am and 12 noon. Winners will be announced after the fifth race and will have to be present to win when the announcement is made from winner's circle. To qualify for the drawing, entrants must be enrolled full time for spring or summer 2022 classes and in good standing with their Louisiana college or university.

For more information about Louisiana Premier Day and the remainder of Delta Downs' current season, which runs through March 5, visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

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California Chrome Daughter Cilla Dominates Friday’s Orleans Stakes At Delta

Delta Downs hosted the $75,000 Orleans Stakes on Friday afternoon and the winner was a very popular choice of the fans as P. Dale Ladner's 3-5 wagering favorite, Cilla, came home in front under jockey Thomas Pompell. The daughter of California Chrome got back to the winner's circle for the first time since winning the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga Race Course back in September.

Breaking from post eight in a field of nine, Cilla stalked the early pace set by Icy Charlie, who carved out fractional times of 22.54 seconds for the opening quarter mile and 46.01 for the half. As they turned for home Cilla engaged Icy Charlie who didn't give way easily in the stretch. The pair battled it out for a few strides before Cilla gained the upper-hand and went on to a 2 3/4 length victory over a game Icy Charlie, while Onerollofthedice settled for third, another half length behind the runner-up.

Cilla covered the five-furlong distance of the Orleans in 58.40 seconds. Each race on the Friday program was contest of a fast track and under sunny skies.

The win by Cilla marked the sixth of her 13-race career. She earned $45,000 for the effort and now has a career bankroll of $416,000.

Bred in Louisiana by Ladner and her trainer Brett Brinkman, Cilla is a 4-year-old bay daughter of California Chrome, out of the Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar.

Fans who wagered on Cilla collected payoffs of $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Icy Charlie was worth $4.80 to place and $3.40 to show. Onerollofthedice returned $7 to show.

Delta Downs will close out its race week on Saturday afternoon with another nine-race program that kicks off at 12:55 pm. The headliner will be the $75,000 Sam's Town Stakes for older horses sprinting five furlongs.

For more information about the current season visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about the track through Facebook by visiting the page 'Delta Downs Racing'. The track's Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

The post California Chrome Daughter Cilla Dominates Friday’s Orleans Stakes At Delta appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Lighting Safety Concerns Again Delay Return Of Night Racing At Delta Downs

Renewed concerns over the safety of a new LED lighting system installed at Delta Downs prevented the Louisiana State Racing Commission from approving a return to night racing at the Vinton, La. racetrack, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The new system was necessitated by a hurricane wiping out the old lights in August of 2020. Delta first raced under the new lights at night on Oct. 15, when a horse fell at the top of the stretch in the third race and the rest of the card, as well as the Oct. 16 program, were cancelled. Delta has only raced afternoon cards since then, which management maintains is not ideal for handle.

Since then, new lights have been added to the system, and the original ones have been re-aimed to improve coverage. Training in the mornings has occurred under the updated system since Dec. 2, but jockeys like Ty Kennedy, Gerard Melancon, and Tim Thornton expressed that they still don't feel the lights are safe.

Delta's vice president and general manager Steve Kuypers countered by referencing a report written by lighting specialist John Stewart, brought in on Dec. 1, which states that “the only track in the nation with a better lighting system was Churchill Downs.”

“We can't agree on okaying this if the lighting system's not safe for these riders,” Commissioner Eddie Delahoussaye, a retired Hall-of-Fame jockey, told the other commissioners. “Somebody goes and gets killed–I don't want that on my head.”

The LSRC wound up voting unanimously to extend Delta's afternoon racing schedule for an additional 30 days, unless the two parties can agree on the safety of the lights and desire an expedited re-vote prior to that timeframe.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Lighting Safety Concerns Again Delay Return Of Night Racing At Delta Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Seven Winning Rides: Tim Thornton Sets New Single-Day Record At Delta Downs

Tim Thornton set a single day track record for wins by a jockey on Saturday, Oct. 23 when he rode seven winners during a 10-race program at Delta Downs. The feat eclipsed the old mark of six wins in a day set by Steve Bourque and current rider Ashley Broussard.

Thornton's accomplishment was honored by Delta Downs during its live program on Saturday as Vice President and General Manager Steve Kuypers presented a special plaque to him in the winner's circle. The track's jockey colony joined Thornton in the festivities as Kuypers commented on the accomplishment.

“What Tim did was incredible,” said Kuypers. “It's something special when a rider wins two or three races in one day, but to visit the winner's circle seven times on a single card is just amazing. I'm sure this record will stand for a very long time.”

After his unbelievable day, Thornton was humble about what he had just happened.

“It's always awesome to win races,” Thornton commented. “I just took it one race at a time and kept trying to put horses in the right spot to win and luckily they were all fit and ready to go. I was able to get them there.”

Thornton's biggest win during his seven-win day was with the Dallas Stewart trainee Unified Report ($2.40) in the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes. He also scored with Relax Town ($2.80), Blue Darter ($6), Dreaming of Neany ($8.60), Laughing Latinos ($14), Shackleford Strong ($4.20), and Interactif Moment ($9.60).

Thornton has dominated the jockey standings at Delta Downs since he moved his tack to Vinton, Louisiana in 2017. This season he ranks at the top once again as he attempts to win his fourth consecutive riding title.

Fans can watch Thornton ply his trade each week at Delta Downs this season. The track hosts live programs each Wednesday through Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:55 pm through March 5.

The post Seven Winning Rides: Tim Thornton Sets New Single-Day Record At Delta Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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