Lucrative Delta Jackpot Gets 13 Pre-Entries
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Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino said Nov. 11 it received 13 pre-entries for the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III), the richest 2-year-old stakes in North America outside of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
The Jackpot will be run Nov. 22 as part of a special program that will begin at 1:15 p.m. CST. Delta Downs normally races at night.
The program, which includes the $400,000 Delta Princess Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies, will offer eight stakes and more than $2.3 million in purses.
Officials at the Louisiana racetrack said trainer D. Wayne Lukas has pre-entered Mr. Z in the Jackpot and Take Charge Brandi, winner of the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), in the Delta Princess, which attracted 17 pre-entries. Mr. Z breezed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Churchill Downs Nov. 12, the same day Take Charge Brandi worked the same distance in 1:02 1/5 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:18 1/5.
The pre-entries for the Jackpot, run at 1 1/16 miles, in earnings order are Wake Up Nick, Conquest Tsunami, Mr. Z, Golden Actor, Saratoga Heater, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Red Button, Dekabrist, Far Right, Big Big Easy, Prime Engine, Unblunted, and Two Six Wins.
Final entries and post positions will be drawn Nov. 18. First preference for the Jackpot will be given to Golden Actor, who won the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs Oct. 25. Thereafter, preference will be given to horses that have finished first, second, or third in a grade I or grade II stakes, and then preference goes to horses that have finished in the money in any graded stakes.
The final determinant to get into the field will be lifetime earnings at the time of pre-entries closing. The Delta Downs Jackpot field is limited to a maximum of 10 starters.
The Jackpot, for the third year in a row, is part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series. The top four finishers will earn points toward the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I): 10 for first, four for second, two for third, and one for fourth.