Lukas duo favored in rich stakes at Delta Downs

Delta Downs’ racing office saw a flurry of activity on Tuesday morning as final entries and post positions were drawn for Saturday’s $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot (Gr. III). The 5-2 morning line favorite for the 12^th running of the track’s signature event is Mr. Z, from the barn of Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. A total of 12 talented 2-year-olds, including two also eligibles horses, were entered for the 1-1/16 mile race.

The $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot is the centerpiece of an 11-race program that will feature eight stakes races, two graded stakes, and over $2.3 million in total purse money. 

The entire field for the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot is listed below along with morning line odds for each horse.

Post #              Horse                          Jockey                        Trainer                                   ML

1                      Prime Engine             Russell Baze               Jerry Hollendorfer               8-1

2                      Dekabrist                   Jesus Rios                   Gennadi Dorochenko           30-1

3                      Mr. Z                          Paco Lopez                D. Wayne Lukas                   5-2

4                      Conquest Tsunami    Shaun Bridgmohan   Mark Casse                            4-1

5                      Saratoga Heater        Joel Rosario               Lisa Lewis                              15-1

6                      Golden Actor             Jose Gallego               Ignacio Roncancio                7-2

7                      Red Button                Tyler Baze                  Mark Glatt                             12-1

8                      Wake Up Nick           Mario Gutierrez        Leandro Mora                       10-1

9                      Far Right                   Corey Lanerie           Ron Moquett                         10-1

10                    Ocho Ocho Ocho       Mike Smith                James Cassidy                       6-1

11 (AE)           Unblunted                  Joe Talamo                Michael McCarthy                15-1

12 (AE)           Two Six Wins            Martin Pedroza         Michael Pender                     20-1 

The winner of Saturday’s main event will earn a $600,000 paycheck and 10 points toward a possible starting position in next year’s Kentucky Derby by way of the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ series. Since 2002, a total of nine horses have participated in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot before going on to compete in the Kentucky Derby as 3-year-olds. The 2012 Jackpot produced a record number of three Kentucky Derby starters including Goldencents, Mylute and Itsmyluckyday. 

Saturday’s program will also feature the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (Gr. III). The one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies is headed by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr. I) winner Take Charge Brandi, who also hails from Lukas’s barn and has been assigned morning line odds of 2-1. 

Delta Downs will offer a special guaranteed $200,000 all stakes Pick 4 on Jackpot Day. The wager has been available during each of the 11 previous editions of the Jackpot Day program. The record payoff for a $2 winning ticket was $22,225.80 in 2006. The minimum wager amount for the Jackpot Day Pick 4 is .50 cents. 

There is a special early post time for the Jackpot Day program Saturday of 1:15 p.m. CST. Listed below is the entire Jackpot Day Pick 4 sequence of races, along with their scheduled post times. 

Race 4             $150,000 Louisiana Jewel                                         Post Time 2:44 pm CST

Race 5             $200,000 Treasure Chest                                          Post Time 3:13 pm CST

Race 6             $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (Gr. III)                Post Time 3:43 pm CST

Race 7             $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot (Gr. III)              Post Time 4:15 pm CST