Cool Million on the line in Delta Jackpot
By: Nicolle Neulist, Blinkers Off
Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (GIII), two-year-olds,
one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt, post time 4:45pm CST
The Delta Jackpot may only be a Grade III, but it
is one of the richest races on the two-year-old calendar, with a purse of a
cool million dollars. In addition to
their share of a $1,000,000 purse, the runners in the Delta Jackpot also have
the chance to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 10, 4, 2, and 1,
respectively, to the top four finishers.
It has been run since 2002, except for 2005 when Hurricane Rita forced
its cancellation.
Just this spring, it produced its first Classic
winner: last year's Jackpot winner, Exaggerator, splashed home a convincing
winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes (GI).
The race has also produced a two-time Breeders' Cup winner: though 2012
Jackpot winner Goldencents found the Classics too long, he proved to be an
excellent miler, and won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in both 2013 and
2014. From a more local perspective,
Birdbirdistheword won the Delta Jackpot in 2006. Though he never raced in Illinois, he did
stand stud in the state after retiring from racing. His progeny included Timeaday, winner of the
2014 Showtime Deb Stakes at Hawthorne.
The race drew well for morning line favorite GUNNEVERA -- assuming he can take to
the smaller track that is Delta Downs, he deserves serious respect. Gunnevera comes in second off a freshening,
and takes a class drop from a fifth-place effort behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile
winner Classic Empire last out in the Breeders' Futurity (GI). A confirmed off-pace type, Gunnevera should
be well suited by the setup
here. Line Judge and Hot Sean should be
forward, DANGERFIELD should be pushing them along, and both of the Casse pair
of THIRSTFORLIFE and OUR STORMIN NORMAN have shown some
front-end gas as well. Gunnevera should
be sharper than he was last out, and well tuned to run down the speed.
Behind that, it's price horses who catch this
space's eye.
It's always hard to count out GEE MONEY at Delta Downs, and Tip Tap Tapizar gets a long look, as
well. Gerard Melancon returns to the
irons with Tip Tap Tapizar after a second-place finish in the local prep, and
this start has him second off the lay.
He has tables to turn on Gunnevera, behind whom he was third two starts
back in the Saratoga Special (GII). He
also has tables to turn on Line Judge, who beat him in the Jean Lafitte (the local
prep) last out. But, Line Judge will
have far more to handle up front. And,
unlike Gunnevera, Tip Tap Tapizar has proven he can handle the Delta
course. On pace, though his maiden win
came on the lead, Tip Tap Tapizar came form off the pace to win the Sapling two
back, and replicated that style for his second in the local prep. A reasonable step up in form coming second
off the lay, and Tip Tap Tapizar figures at a price. He is certainly the most attractive option
coming from the local prep.
PAT
ON THE BACK tries open
stakes company for the first time here, as all five of his career starts thus
far have come against New York-breds.
But, on speed, he fits with this set.
He has also shown pace versatility.
Last out, he fought early, kicked clear, and scored by daylight in his
first time going a mile. Even though
that came on the front, his sprint outings at Saratoga, Finger Lakes, and even
Belmont suggest that he has everything he needs to stay engaged and competitive
from off the front end as well. It also
stands out who has the call on Pat On the Back: though Robby Albarado rode
well-connected J BOYS ECHO in his
first two starts, he instead turns up to ride Pat On the Back.
Selections:
#6 Gunnevera (5/2)
#10 Tip Tap Tapizar (10/1)
#1 Pat On the Back (15/1)
Longshot: #7 Balandeen (10/1) has shown some
speed, but has been able to both fight and rate, depending on the
circumstances. Pace is the biggest
question, but there are other things to recommend him at a price. Balandeen finished second last out in the
Street Sense Stakes at a one-turn mile, and being by Bernardini out of Mamma
Kimbo (a Grade II winner going a mile and a sixteenth), two turns ought to suit
him. A reasonable step forward in his
first try going two turns makes Balandeen a contender. The humans suit, too. Trainer Chris Hartman has a solid 17% win
rate with runners hitting the road. And,
his last two starts suggest a solid rapport with rider Channing Hill, who ships
to Cajun country to ride.
