Black Blood Impressive In First Graded Black Type Win Develop A Plan Stakes

Black Blood, under jockey Gilbert Ortiz, easily winning the Grade 3 $2,000 Develop A Plan Stakes Friday night at Delta Downs.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–JULY 8, 2022–Black Blood scored his first career stakes win on Friday when he defeated One Sweet Merlot by one-length in the $35,000 Grade 3 Develop A Plan Stakes at Delta Downs.

Under jockey Gilbert Ortiz, Black Blood dominated late while stopping the timer in :17.444 seconds, a 94 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind for 350 yards. It was the eighth career win in 18 starts for the son of leading sire Apollitical Blood.

Michael S. Zingelmann conditions the 4-year-old gelding for owner Rayne Knight. Black Blood was third in the Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3) and the LQHBA Breeders Derby(RG3) last year and a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) and Laddie Futurity(RG2) at 2.

Bred by Erin Chrisman, from the Sweet First Down mare Black Rosalita, Black Blood used the $21,000 Develop A Plan winner's purse to boost his bankroll to $166,308.

Oklahoma-bred One Sweet Merlot earned $5,000 for his second-place effort. Juan Cano trains the One Sweet Jess 8-year-old for owners David Jones and Mark Cowan.  Vessels Stallion Farm bred the gelding from the Heza Fast Dash mare Onemoreglassofwine.  

The stakes winner has earned $146,193.

The winning connections of Black Blood accept the Develop A Plan Stakes trophy Friday night at Delta Downs.
© Coady Photography

Denalia Sweet Jess, under jockey Roman Huerta, finished half-a-length back to earn $3,850 for third. Ruben Chavez trains the 4-year-old One Sweet Jess colt for Jose Rodriguez. Bred in Louisiana by Russell Mowad, the multiple graded stakes-placed colt has earned $149,163. He is out of the Chicks Beduino mare Denali Chick.

Diane To Be A Hero, One Fast Perry, Quorumm and He B Swift completed the field.

Delta Downs will close out its race week on Saturday night with another nine-race program. The featured event will be the $305,865 Firecracker Futurity (G2). First post time is set for 6:15 pm. (CDT).

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About Delta Downs
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.

Delta Downs will conduct its ninth week of Quarter Horse racing next Wednesday through Saturday. First post time each evening will be at 6:15 pm. The week will include the Vals Fortune/Teddy Abrams Memorial Stakes race on Wednesday, trials for this year’s Delta Downs Derby on Thursday, and trails for the season’s richest race, the Lee Berwick Futurity, on Friday and Saturday nights.

For more information about the season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.