Thornton's talents are on display daily at Delta Downs but his ride in the Delta Mile was exquisite. After breaking cleanly from the outside post position in a field of seven, Thornton pressed the pace set by It's a Wrap, who went the opening quarter-mile in :23.49 and the half-mile in :47.61. When the field reached the second turn, It's a Wrap had had enough and checked out, leaving Flash of Mischief on the lead heading for home.

In the upper stretch, Thornton roused his mount and he responded, opening up a clear lead in the stretch after covering ¾ of a mile in 1:12.74. Inside the final sixteenth of a mile, Mocito Rojo began rolling at the leader but it was too late as Flash of Mischief held sway and won by 1-3/4 lengths. Longshot Bold Thirst was along for third, another half-length behind the runner-up.

Flash of Mischief covered the eight furlongs of the Delta Mile in a time of 1:39.93 while racing over a fast track.

The win by Flash of Mischief was the sixth of his 14-race career. He earned $60,000 for the effort on Saturday, which raised his overall bankroll to $478,102. He's also now at Delta Downs with three wins in as many starts.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Flash of Mischief is a 3-year-old bay colt by Into Mischief, out of the Political Force mare Flashy Campaign.

Sent to the gate as the wagering favorite, Flash of Mischief paid $3.40 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.10 to show. Mocito Rojo paid $3.60 to place and $3.20 to show. Bold Thirst was worth $7.40 to show.

Delta Downs will conduct its sixth week of the season next Wednesday through Saturday. First post time Wednesday and Thursday is at 12:55 pm. The first race on Friday and Saturday will be at 12:25 pm.

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“Many horsemen struggled last year during the (COVID-19) pandemic,” explained Wilson. “Sitting out for six months was a hardship on trainers, but I'm blessed with great clients who supported us. Thankfully, we were able to keep our whole stable intact.”

Several clients, including Wayne T. Davis, Joe Hackler and David Fontenot have been with Wilson for over 14 years.

“I began training in 1997 and am fortunate to have some loyal owners who trust me and love to see their horses run,” he added. “From the stakes company as well as the claiming level, with the support of my owners, we continue to be competitive.”

This is the second year in a row that Wilson set up shop at the Bossier City racetrack. He does not hesitate when asked about his allegiance to Louisiana Downs.

“David Heitzmann (Louisiana Downs Director of Racing) communicated with the horsemen through the shutdown in 2020,” said Wilson. “He was the first to set a plan and give us a projected opening date.”

Louisiana Downs was able to open their 84-day meet on its regular (Kentucky Derby) opening date this year, and Wilson has been pleased with way the season has progressed.

“The track surfaces are very good, and they have made some improvements to the paddock and other areas of the complex. Having Camel and Ostrich Racing (on May 30) and these Family Sundays has brought in new fans. Promotions are part of it, but to me, they are working hard to sell horseracing as their core product.”

Wilson worked summers at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, starting when he was 15 mucking stalls and hot walking for trainer Jack Van Berg. His brief foray to college did not last as he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in racing. He served as assistant to Sam David for seven years before going out on his own.

Aside from his racing ties, Wilson has another notable connection to Harrah's Louisiana Downs. He met his wife, Becky, the daughter of horseman Jim O'Brien, here. The couple has two sons. Peyton is 20 years-old and his brother, Connor, 17, both help their dad out when they are not in school.

His stable star is the multiple-stakes winning Mocito Rojo, a 7-year-old son of Mutadda. Wilson claimed the Kentucky-bred for owner Wayne T. Davis for $10,000 in a December 2016 maiden race at Delta Downs. He has amassed a record of 20 wins from 37 starts and earnings of $882,863. In 2019, Mocito Rojo won the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park and the Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. He has won back-to-back races this meet at Louisiana Downs.

“He's an amazing animal,” said Wilson. “I like to say he keeps winning despite his trainer.”

But the truth is Wilson has not shied away from changing things up for the intrepid runner.

“He got a little lackluster in his route races, so I shortened him to six furlongs this year (on May 18),” said Wilson.

He won that sprint in 1:09.78 and returned on June 6, taking on four rivals in a seven furlong allowance optional claimer, in which he won in 1:21.70. The speedy Kentucky-bred just missed breaking the track record of 1:21.60 set on July 4, 1984.

“I told (jockey) Jose Guerrero to really let him go,” recalled Wilson. “I felt adding a track-record setting performance might help his stud career. When Jose saw the final time, he looked at me and said, “I thought you were kidding!'”

Track record aside, Wilson has true admiration for Mocito Rojo, who will hopefully surpass the million dollar earnings mark in his career.

“I have watched every one of his 37 races,” admitted Wilson. “He was so little and skinny as a 3-year-old. This $10,000 claimer has taken us places we've never gone!”

Wilson will send both Mocito Rojo and 3-year-old Rightandjust to the Iowa Festival of Racing Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3 at Prairie Meadows. Rojo is nominated to the $100,000 Iowa Sprint and Rightandjust, a colt by Awesome Again, also owned by Davis, will point to the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

Wilson turned 50 this year and came to an interesting revelation on his training objectives.

“When I was younger, it was all about winning,” he stated. “Now I enjoy the mornings when I can watch them train and really learn more about each of their personalities. Figuring out the puzzle for each horse at different levels keeps it fun!”

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Wilson, a native of Haughton, La., has been working at the race track since he was a teenager and learned his trade under Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg, as well as highly successful veterans Bobby Barnett and Sam David. He went out his own in 1998, won his first race that October at Sam Houston when Fullasatick won the Jiffy Lube Stakes, and also has been a mainstay on the Louisiana circuit ever since. Wherever he's gone, Wilson has never forgotten the one piece of advice that stands out above all the rest.

“I was lucky to learn from a lot of those guys coming up but the thing I really remember, more than anything, is the care of the horses,” Wilson said. “The horse comes first. Everybody that I worked for always said that if they need the time, you stop and give them the time. They can come back later and reward you.”

Wilson isn't new to the Fair Grounds backstretch, as he was prominent here in the early 2000s, winning nine races in 2001-02. Shortly after he shifted his winter base primarily to Delta Downs, while only occasionally shipping in locally. Wilson made small inroads last year, winning two races from 19 starters, but got the full allotment of 44 stalls this year, and has been a daily presence at the entry box from Opening Day.

“We had been going to Delta and I have a lot of clients that like to claim and we decided to come here this year because there is a better quality of horses,” Wilson said. “We've been active in the claiming ranks. We knew we had some horses that didn't fit, so we wanted to upgrade, and that's what we've been doing.”

Wilson made national headlines in 2019 when Mocito Rojo, a horse he claimed for $10,000 for owner Wayne T. Davis out of a debut win at Delta in 2016, won the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park and Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs. The veteran has since won 17 races and over $800,000 for his new connections, who could be on to another big score with Rightandjust, a horse they claimed for $50,000 out of a local maiden-claimer in December. The 3-year-old son of Awesome Again won a salty optional-claimer in convincing fashion for his new connections here Jan. 16 and looms an upset candidate in the Feb. 13 Risen Star (G2), the last prep for the March 20 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2).

Both Mocito Rojo and Rightandjust fit the profile that Wilson looks for in a young horse at the claiming box.

“With both horses, we were looking for a young horse with a pedigree to stretch out and run long,” Wilson said. “With Rightandjust, we were hoping he was a young horse who could mature and turn into something like Mocito Rojo did. He's still progressing and moving forward and we're looking forward to the Risen Star.”

Horses like Mocito Rojo and Rightandjust have given Wilson a chance to run against some of the best horses and trainers in the sport. With conditioners like Brad Cox, Steve Asmussen, and Tom Amoss, among others, on the backstretch, finding wins in the bigger races isn't easy. Wilson looks forward to the challenge and knows it's a big feather in his cap to be able to run and compete in spots like the Risen Star.

“It feels good for the barn and the clients to feel like we belong against the best here,” Wilson said. “They want to feel like we can run against those barns. You know where you fit and where you don't. And whenever we do have one that we feel can compete in the bigger races, it's fun to go against them.”

Wilson started the meet on a winning note—literally—as he teamed with jockey Jack Gilligan to win the opener on the November 26 card, the first of five races the duo won together locally before the end of the year. Gilligan went down with a broken collarbone January 10 and, without his go-to rider, Wilson has struggled to find the winner's circle. The barn has gone just 1-for-21 since Gilligan has been on the mend, with Rightandjust as the only winner. Needless to say, Wilson is looking forward to Gilligan's return next month.

“It hurt me when I lost Jack,” Wilson said. “He got down here and started working horses for us and that had a lot to do with our fast start. He breezed a lot of those horses and he knew them. He's a super good rider and he'll listen. I lost him at the start of this month and we've had seconds and thirds and a lot of it is guys getting on horses that they had never been on before.”

Gilligan has felt at home riding for Wilson, as the pair have struck a winning partnership. Be it a $5,000 state-bred claimer, or an improving 3-year-old pointing to a grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep, Gilligan has been impressed with Wilson's ability to have a blinkers-on approach to each horse.

“He's able to cater to each horse individually and get every last ounce he can out of each one,” Gilligan said. “That's hard to do with over 40 horses. He doesn't always have the most talented horses but he's done a great job with what he has, getting the best out of them. As a trainer, he's always has the horses feeling great, looking great, and he listens to feedback, which I think is one of my best traits as a rider.”

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Lone Star abruptly cancelled the race card on Sunday after the first race, making the announcement via Twitter. Race cards for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have also been cancelled.

“Due to an abundance of caution, all racing operations at Lone Star Park have been suspended due to COVID-19,” read Sunday's Tweet. “Racing will resume at a date to be determined.”

Melancon, normally based in Louisiana, rode Mocito Rojo in the $75,000 Lone Star Mile on June 28, and had a fever when he returned to Opelousas, La. on June 29. He improved and a “rapid test” for the virus on June 30 came back negative, so he arrived at Evangeline Downs to ride the July 1 card. Melancon felt dizzy before the races, however, and went to the ambulance and then the hospital where he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia.

The racing operations employee who tested positive has been instructed to self-quarantine as well.

Because of potential exposure to coronavirus, jockeys and employees working in the licensing and racing offices are being told to quarantine for two weeks. It's unclear when racing may resume, but Lone Star may have an opportunity to extend their meet, which is currently scheduled to end on Aug. 11.

Lone Star was forced to delay the start of its live meet until May 22. On June 10, Lone Star management was notified by officials that spectators would be permitted on-track as Texas became one of the first states to reopen its economy.

After an alarming spike in COVID-19 positive tests throughout Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott on July 2 issued an order requiring face coverings in public and giving local officials authority to limit the size of gatherings.

Indiana Grand announced Monday that no individuals from Lone Star will be allowed on the property until they complete a 14-day quarantine and present a negative test for COVID-19:

“Due to the recent news of several positive tests for Covid-19 at Lone Star Park near Dallas, Texas and the suspension of their racing season indefinitely, Indiana Grand Racing and Casino has halted the transfer of all jockeys, exercise riders and grooms from that facility to the racing program in Indiana.

“The decision to prevent participants coming from Lone Star Park into Indiana is a result of a group effort between Indiana Grand, the horsemen's organizations and Indiana Horse Racing Commission, to provide due diligence for the safety of all those currently racing at Indiana Grand.”

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It is the first time in eight years that the Haughton, La. native has shifted his base to Shreveport. There was no hesitation when he was asked about returning for the meet.

“We were all in limbo several months ago,” said Wilson describing the impact of COVID-19 on the resumption of racing in Louisiana. “However (Director of Racing) David Heitzmann was the first to step up with a plan. We knew the early May date was not possible, but David set June 6 as the opening date at Louisiana Downs and quickly got the condition book posted.”

From that point, Wilson set his training schedule and “was ready to roll”.

“The main track is amazing,” said Wilson. “We arrived with some sore horses and they are now sound. Billy does an outstanding job.”

So far, it has worked out well for Wilson and his main owner, Wayne T. Davis. They are in second-place in the trainer and owner standings, trailing Karl Broberg and End Zone Athletics, Inc.

Wilson, 49, worked summers at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, starting when he was 15. He mucked stalls and hot walked for trainer Jack Van Berg. His brief foray to college did not last as he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in racing. He served as assistant to Sam David for seven years before going out on his own in 1998.

His top horse is the multiple-stakes winning Mocito Rojo, a 6-year-old son of Mutadda. Wilson claimed the Kentucky-bred for owner Wayne T. Davis for $10,000 in a December 2016 maiden race at Delta Downs. The six-time stakes winner has amassed a record of 17 wins from 30 starts and earnings of $818,063. In 2019, Mocito Rojo won the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park and the Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. He returned to the Grand Prairie, Texas racetrack on Sunday, June 28, finishing fifth in the $75,000 Lone Star Mile.

“He never likes dirt in his face and came back covered by a half of an inch of sand,” said Wilson. “It would have been nice to win as it was my owner's 91st birthday, but the horse cooled out fine and we made it back to Louisiana Downs late Sunday night.”

Davis, who resides in Plain Dealing, La., a small town in Bossier Parrish, is appreciative of the care Wilson gives each of his horses. His winners this meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs include Green Monster; Cap Roc Miner, Artic Peace, Lucky Dare and most recently, a five-length score by Luvmewhenimgone.

Another key member of the Wilson team is veteran jockey Filimon Rodriguez, who is a full-time employee. The 53-year-old has ridden on the Texas and Louisiana circuits for three decades. He gallops the 30 head of Wilson's stabled at Louisiana Downs and rides the majority of the Wilson trainees in Shreveport.

Aside from his racing ties, Wilson has another notable connection to Harrah's Louisiana Downs. He met his wife, Becky, the daughter of horseman Jim O'Brien, here. The couple has two sons. Peyton is 19 years-old and his brother, Connor, 16, have both been helping their dad this summer.

“It's a tough business,” stated Wilson. “You have to make some very difficult decisions. I started the same time as some very successful horsemen, including my good friend, Bret Calhoun. To reach a really high level, you have to travel, and I chose to stay in Louisiana to be closer to my family.”

He will ship select horses to Evangeline Downs this summer but is more than content to be stabled at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

“They showed their commitment to the horsemen,” he said. “So, I am happy to run here and support their meet.”

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