Seven Enter Delta Downs Jackpot Off Victories

The top two morning-line choices for the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) pit east vs. west, but the connections of each of the 10 juveniles entered have reason for optimism.

Every horse in the field has won in at least one of his past two starts and seven enter off of victories.

Delta Downs drew its Jackpot card early, as the 1 1/16-mile race will be contested Nov. 19. The card also features the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III) for juvenile fillies and seven other stakes. Last year's Delta Jackpot winner Exaggerator   went on to win this year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

As for that coast vs. coast battle in the Jackpot, Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II) winner Gunnevera, the 5-2 favorite who made his first three starts at Gulfstream Park, will face Hot Sean, a fast-improving son of Flatter   for trainer Bob Baffert. Hot Sean is the 7-2 second choice.

HAMMONDS: Gunnevera Last to First in Saratoga Special

Peacock Racing Stables' Gunnevera will be making his first start since finishing fifth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) Oct. 8 at Keeneland. Trained by Antonio Sano, Gunnevera entered that 1 1/16-mile race off back-to-back wins sprinting, taking a July maiden race at Gulfstream before registering a clear victory in the Saratoga Special.

Gunnevera, by Dialed In  , will get the services of multiple Eclipse Award-winning rider Javier Castellano, who guided him to victory in the Saratoga Special.

Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman's Hot Sean won at second asking Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park, where he secured a clear victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race. He then successfully stretched out to two turns, winning an allowance/optional claiming race by 1 1/4 lengths Oct. 27 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Doug O'Neill, who won the 2012 Delta Jackpot with Goldencents, has entered W. C. Racing and Zayat Stables' Dangerfield, a son of Into Mischief   who picked up some respect with a 4 1/2-length score in the Oak Tree Juvenile Stakes Oct. 1 at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet in Northern California.

The field also includes two-time stakes winner Line Judge, who secured that second stakes score in the local prep to the Jackpot, the one-mile Jean Lafitte Stakes Oct. 22. The other stakes winner in the field is New York-bred Pat On the Back.

Thirstforlife earned a grade II placing in this year's Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) and enters off an Oct. 20 allowance win at Keeneland.

The Delta Princess will see Golden Mischief, by Into Mischief, put a three-race win streak on the line, a stretch that includes a score in the Oct. 21 My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta, where she starts from the rail in an expected field of 10. Breaking from the outside will be Donald Dizney Florida-bred Dude Fantasy, who enters off a victory in the Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes Oct. 1 at Gulfstream.