UP N GONE TAKES THE BOYD REWARDS STAKES; MISS PRIORITY VICTORIOUS IN THE ROSEWATER AT DELTA DOWNS
BOTH STAKES RACES FEATURED EXCITING PHOTO FINISHES
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted a pair of $100,000 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses on Friday night. The Boyd Rewards was won by Donald W. Moran, Sr.’s Up N Gone (No. 5) and the Rosewater was taken by Salli Foushee’s Miss Priority (No. 8).
The Boyd Rewards was contested at 7-1/2 furlongs for horses 3-years-old and older and non-winners of a stakes race. Jockey Elio Barrera’s masterful ride aboard Up N Gone got him the win as he stalked the pace set by Pacificislandtime, who went the opening quarter mile in 23.97 seconds and the half mile in 48.54.
Turning home Pacificislandtime opened up a lead and appeared to be marching to victory before Up N Gone launched a late rally at the rail to nab the leader at the wire and win by a head in a photo finish. Saint Gabriel rounded out the top three finishers another length behind the top pair.
Up N Gone, who is conditioned by Sam Breaux, covered the distance in a time of 1:33.63. Each race on the Friday program was contested over a fast track.
The win by Up N Gone was the fifth of his 23-race career. He earned $60,000 for the score and now owns a lifetime bankroll of $199,730.
Bred in Louisiana by Brittlyn Inc., Up N Gone is a 4-year-old dark bay or brown gelding by Star Guitar, out of the City Zip mare Zippity Goomba.
Sent to the gate at odds of 7-1, Up N Gone returned $16.80 to win, $7.20 to place and $4.40 to show. Pacificislandtime paid $8 to place and $4.20 to show. Saint Gabriel was worth $2.60 to show.
The Rosewater, which was also contested at 7-1/2 furlongs, was won in front-running style. Miss Priority went to the lead early under jockey Casey Fuselier but had to deal with a pesky Pickin Ana Grinnin early while traveling the first quarter mile in 23.84 seconds and the half mile in 47.97. As the field turned for home, Miss Priority wore down her determined rival and opened up sizable lead in the upper-stretch before Nodah burst onto the scene in the final 1/16th of a mile to make things exciting and cause a photo finish.
When the dust settled, Miss Priority won by a neck with Nodah finishing second. Wonderrand was third another 2-1/2 lengths behind. The final time for the winner, who is trained by Paul Duhon, was 1:34.28.
Miss Priority has now won six-of-26 career starts. She took home $60,000 for her Rosewater win and now owns a bankroll of $239,640.
Bred in Louisiana bay Pam Stevenson, Miss Priority is a 5-year-old mare by Apriority, out of the Lydgate mare Miss Dealbreaker.
Delta Downs will close out the race week on Saturday night with a nine-race program starting at 4:50pm.
