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Contact: Michael Adolphson, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, Michael.Adolphson@fgno.com
DELAUNAY GETS DOWN AND DIRTY TO EDGE HEITAI IN BONAPAW
Unlike his seven-length romp last time in the $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap, Maggi Moss’ Delaunay had to roll up his proverbial sleeves and work for his money on Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds Race Course in the off-the-turf $60,000 Bonapaw Stakes. Forced to chase one of the swiftest front-runners in the country in Rowell Enterprises’ Heitai, the son of Smoke Glacken took the length of the muddy stretch to run down that rival by a neck.
Ridden by James Graham for trainer Tom Amoss from post four, the Maryland-bred traveled the 5½-furlong distance in 1:04.34 over a sealed surface after Heitai set fractions of :22.12, :45.24 and :57.62. Delaunay returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 4-5 favorite, earning $37,800 to boost his career bankroll to $1,094,291. The win was his 18th in a 49-race career, 11th stakes victory and sixth win in seven main track starts at Fair Grounds.
“I wanted to be a little closer on the backside, but Heitai is so quick,” Graham said. “I chased him down and got him in the last four or five jumps. The last few jumps I saw Heitai getting a little tired and said ‘just keep coming, just keep coming – we got him, we got him!’ – and we did.”
“A couple of good old warriors,” Amoss added. “Heitai is a great horse. Delaunay, obviously I think the world of him. It was a great race. Delaunay rarely wins his races running somebody down at the end. He likes to win his races in the first half-mile and we took him out of his game today. Heitai gave him all he wanted. It was a great horse race and someone had to lose and someone had to win – I feel fortunate that we got the win.”
Heitai ran gamely throughout under Colby Hernandez for trainer Karl Broberg in what was his third consecutive second-place finish over the course, returning $3.20 and $2.80 as the 2-1 second choice. Hugh Robertson-owned and -trained Bet Seattle ran third throughout to break a four-race winning streak under Francisco Torres, returning $3.20 to show.
“Everything went good,” Hernandez said. “We had a great trip. He ran big; we just got beat by a good horse. They’re both good horses.”
Torres, who was riding Bet Seattle off a five-month layoff, was pleased with his charge’s performance. “I had a great trip I just couldn’t quite get there,” he said. “It looked like I could get to them, but they kicked in and my horse got a little tired. I can’t fault him; he ran big.”
Jasizzle, Unbridled’s Note and Officer Griffin completed the Bonapaw order of finish.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 143rd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 102nd running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2014 through March 2015. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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