Rip Tide Pulls Clear In The Par-A-Dice Stakes At Delta Downs

Rip Tide, under jockey Everardo Rodriguez, wins the $20,450 Par-A-Dice Stakes on Saturday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

Rip Tide broke well from post position eight in a field of nine but did not garner the lead until midway through the 330-yard test for 3-year-olds and up who had not won a stakes race. During the final 100 yards the Lanny Keith trainee pulled clear to win by ½ length over Financial Top with Ss Classyjess finishing another length behind the top pair.

Rip Tide covered the distance over a fast track in a time of :16.455 seconds, which earned him a lofty speed index of 104.

The win by Rip Tide marked the sixth of his 19-race career and it was his second straight win at Delta Downs after arriving from California earlier in the year. He is also undefeated at 330-yards, having now won all four of his starts going that distance. Saturday’s tally earned him $12,000 and he now has a lifetime bankroll of $118,283.

Rip Tide is a gray horse by Corona Cartel, out of the First Down Dash mare Little Surfer.

Sent to the gate at odds of just over even money, Rip Tide paid $4.20 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Financial Tip paid $6.20 to place and $5.20 to show. Ss Classyjess was worth $9.20 to show.

Coming off a fourth-place effort in the Bank of America Texas Championship Challenge last month, runner-up Financial Top races for owners Gerardo Prado and Karla Diaz. Josue Huitron saddled the Heza Fast Dash 5-year-old from the Mr Jess Perry mare Financial Leverage. The $4,000 second-place check increased the chestnut gelding's earnings to $37,820. Luis Vivanco was aboard.

Ricardo Hernandez, Jr., had the riding call aboard third-place finisher Ss Classyjess for owner Edgar Rosales and trainer Jose Carrizales. Robbie Stewarts' Double S Farm bred the 3-year-old Rock Solid Jess filly in Texas from the Royal Shake Em mare High Class Broad. She earned $2,200 for the effort.

Mighty Corona Jr., Jets Fast Dash, Cant Catchacorona, Perrys Jumpn Beduino, Sweet Annie Gl and Audacious Fire completed the field. Canonball Run was scratched.

Delta Downs will embark on its final two weeks of racing next Wednesday night with a 10-race program beginning 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.