Stone Cold Leader Cruises To Victory In The Delta 550 Stakes At Delta Downs
© Coady Photography
Stone Cold Leader, who is owned by Patrick Richardson, broke sharply in his 550-yard debut and was on the lead throughout the race. In the final strides, Pina sat chilly on the winner as he reported home one length in front of Jes A Spitfire who finished second. Ww Showtime wound up third, another head behind the runner-up.
Stone Cold Leader covered the distance over a fast track in :27.004 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 99.
The win by Stone Cold Leader marked his fourth in a row and his third straight stakes tally. In all he has won 11-of-20 races and his first-place prize of $15,000 on Saturday raised his bankroll to $450,333.
Bred in Indiana by Mark Michel, Stone Cold Leader is a 4-year-old brown gelding by Brookstone Bay, out of the Leader Of The Class mare Sheza Classy Leader.
Jes A Spitfire, a 5-year-old Walk Thru Fire mare owned by Vickie Davis, earned $5,000 for second. Also trained by Simien, the Indiana-bred mare was ridden by jockey Jose Rodriguez. Jaime Gomez bred Jes A Spitfire from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Delightful. Winner of the Marathon Stakes at Louisiana Downs in January, she has banked nearly $70,000.
Third-place finisher Ww Showtime races for owner Victoria Galindo and is trained by Alejandra Garza. Antonio Alberto had the riding call aboard the 7-year-old First Prize Perry horse out of Ww Family Tradition by Strawfly Special Bred by Darrel Williams, the graded-stakes-placed 7-year-old picked up $4,400 to bring his bankroll to $93,370.
Sixes Flash, Bjs Magic Wings, Im Mighty Fast and Struttinmyjewelsoff completed the field. Volcom Royalty was scratched.
Sent to the gate as the heaviest of favorites, Stone Cold Leader paid $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Jes A Spitfire returned $5.40 to place and $4 to show. Ww Showtime was worth $3.40 to show.
Delta Downs will embark on its fourth week of live American Quarter Horse racing Wednesday night starting at 6:15 pm CST. Next week’s stakes activity includes the Old South Futurity and Derby finals as well as the Open Me a Corona and Mother’s Day Stakes.
Delta Downs will begin its third week of live American Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night with 10-race program that kicks off at 6:15 pm CST.
For more information about the new season visit the track’s website at deltadownsracing.com.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.