Rising to the Challenge in Jackpot
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Rise Up rolled to a dominant win in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes on Saturday at Delta Downs. (Courtesy of Coady Photography)
Rise Up’s second try in a graded stakes race was a vast improvement from his first.
The Rockport Harbor colt was in control early in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes on Saturday and led every step of the way en route to a six-length romp.
Rise Up earned 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system.
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Rise Up showed promise pretty much from the start of his career. He won his second career start and then rolled to a 4 ¾-length score in the Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes in August before a setback when sixth in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs in September. He bounced back in a big way with a dominant performance in the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs on Oct. 26 and was again much the best at Delta on Saturday in the Jackpot to nail down his first graded stakes win.
Jockey Gerald Melancon sent Rise Up, the 2.10-to-1 second betting choice, right to the lead while 7-to-5 favorite Coastline stumbled badly at the start and dropped back to last after his nose nearly touched the ground.
Rise Up opened a clear lead through a half-mile in :46.30 in the 1 1/16-mile race and responded when challenged on the turn by pulling away to a commanding advantage in the stretch. Rise Up coasted to victory in 1:44.71 for his fourth win in six races. Tom Amoss trains Rise Up for Paul and Andrena Van Doren, who purchased him privately after he won the Mountaineer Juvenile in August.
Kentucky-bred Rise Up is one of two winners from as many starters out of the winning Johannesburg mare Appenzell.
TEPIN TRIUMPHS IN DELTA PRINCESS
Courtesy of Coady Photography
Earlier on the card, Tepin rallied from off the pace under Miguel Mena and pulled away late to win the $500,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths.
A bay filly by Bernstein, Tepin picked up her first career stakes win in the Grade 3 Delta Princess. She finished third in her previous start when beaten by 1 ½ lengths in the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Mark Casse.
Owner Robert Masterson purchased Tepin for $140,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings and she has rewarded him with two wins and a third from four races and $342,084 in purse earnings.
For Equibase charts, click here.