Delaunay still looking for elusive Iowa Festival victory

The eight-year-old gelding Delaunay, winner of 18 races and over $1.1 million in purse money over 52 lifetime outings, is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Iowa Sprint Handicap (Listed) and the most accomplished runner entered Friday June 26 on the first night of the 2015 Iowa Festival of Racing.

Delaunay, a 2007 son of Smoke Glacken–Perilous Night (Colorado’s Quest), is owned by Maggi Moss, an eleven-time leading owner at her hometown Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino. Moss acquired Delaunay in May of 2012 via the claim box when trainer Tom Amoss haltered the then-5YO for $40,000 out of a winning effort at Churchill Downs from owner PTK, LLC and trainer Dane Kobiskie.

Since changing barns three years ago, Delaunay has gone on to win 11 stakes races but remains winless in 3 tries at Prairie Meadows, including second-place finishes in the Iowa Sprint Handicap in 2013 and 2014.

Delaunay will face just 5 rivals in this year’s edition of the Iowa Sprint Handicap, carded as 6^th race on the nine-race Friday night program.

The field for the 2015 Sprint, including jockeys and morning line odds, will be: 1) Bobcat Jim (Shane Laviolette) 9-5, 2) Bruvver Max (Terry Thompson) 8-1, 3) Patty’s Key (Glenn Corbett) 15-1, 4) Den’s Legacy (Ricardo Santana, Jr.) 7-2, 5) Z Rockstar (Luis Quiñonez) 6-1, and 6) Delaunay (Ramon Vazquez) 8-5.

In the Iowa Distaff, 2013 winner Flashy American –with 8 lifetime wins and earnings of $692,183– runs against 6 other runners including 2015 Apple Blossom runner-up Diva’s Diamond.

The field for the Distaff, which goes as the 5^th race, is as follows: 1) Annuity (Ricardo Santana, Jr.) 8-1, 2) Ambusher (Chris Landeros) 10-1, 3) Pretty Fancy (Luis Quiñonez) 6-1, 4) Flashy American (Shane Laviolette) 5-2, 5) Ketel Twist (Alex Birzer) 5-1, 6) More Than Even (M. Clifton Berry), and 7) Diva’s Diamond (Ramon Vazquez) 3-1.

2014 Fantasy Stakes champion Sugar Shock, owned by local connections On Cloud Nine, LLC of Aaron Kennedy, will take on 9 rivals as she chases her 6^th lifetime victory and second tally at Prairie Meadows.

The field for the 2015 Saylorville, carded as the 7^th race of the night, will be: 1) Heykittykitty (Ricardo Santana, Jr.) 4-1, 2) Electric Temptress (Ramon Vazquez) 8-1, 3) Sugar Shock (Alex Birzer) 7-2, 4) Yucca (Glenn Corbett) 5-1, 5) You Bought Her (Julio Felix) 10-1, 6) Bird Maker (Chris Landeros) 8-1, 7) Ghost Locket (Shane Laviolette) 12-1, 8) Hollywood Knockout (Ken Tohill) 15-1, 9) Haveyougoneaway (Jareth Loveberry) 10-1, and 10) Dancin’ Lil (Luis Quiñonez) 8-1.

Source: Prairie Meadows