Delta Jackpot takes on importance this year
 

This years Delta jackpot is now graded(grade 3). Its only November about to turn December but this race is a big deal now.
With 1 million in purse money, the winner is a sure thing to get into the Derby on graded earnings, and the runner up will be as well. The third place finisher will get 100 grand on his way towards being in the top 20.
I suspect that sometime in late April, someone with a sharp late bloomer is gonna get denied by a horse who runs 1-2-3 in this race, who does nothing since then.

This is further reason to have a few 2y old races under your saddle. Foundation & money!

Yeah I mean, its not much of a field but if you run 2nd not only do you get the 200 grand but you are as good as in for the Derby earnings.

I really hope this leads to a reform of the Derby selection system. It is ridiculous that 2nd in this race is worth more than 2nd in the Wood Memorial.

That was the point my posting of this thread.
Can you imagine a late bloomer running a good 2nd in the Wood and missing out on the Derby to one of these horses who runs 2nd at Delta?

For that matter whats to prevent the Sheikhs from boosting the purse in the UAE Derby up to 4 mill so that even the 4th horse would make 200 grand and be eligible? I mean most of the horses in that race belong to them anyway, they get most of their own purse money back as it is.
You'd have the UAE derby 4th place finisher getting a spot over the runnerup in the Wood. And don't laugh, it could happen.
This system needs an overhaul very badly.

I actually suggested almost the exact same thing a couple weeks ago, the Sheikhs upping it to $10 million and structuring it such that they guarantee the top five enough earnings to get in the Derby. If their own horses are winning the money back the majority of the time then it really doesn't matter what they raise the purse to. After that discussion here was the rough draft solution I came up with:

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6688

If we as fans can see this why cant the owners and trainers of promising 2yr olds use this race to tip=toe to the derby. Its not like they arent offering a just reward. Its only my opinion but the high profile NY,Socal and Ky owners and trainers cant lower thereselve to run at a lowly So La track.

Derby or no Derby, grade or no grade I can think of a million reasons to run in this race. Alot of people with a decent 2yo in late fall get "Derby Fever" but honestly, what are the odds of getting there? I say, make a bit of money now if you can with a healthy colt. What iis the average winning BSF for this race? Nice 2yo allowance races in NY or KY require upper 80's to lower 90's to win. Will the Jackpot winner break this barrier?

I've got no sympathy for any " late bloomer " that doesn't get in due to earnings. I'll take my chances that the truly deserving will make it and only ridiculous trainers that never run their horses will risk missing the big dance with a legit contendor.

The ones that belong will dance the dances and get the earnings.

I havnt seen the entries or nomomees but I bet Assmusen has something in here. Suprising that Going Balistic didnt run here other the the previous week-end.

Suprised Baffert has two entered

1 1 Xchanger Bravo J Shuman Mark 122 0 L 6-1
2 2 Malt Magic Espinoza V Baffert Bob 117 0 L 20-1
3 3 Scatter the Tak Meche D J Blasi Scott 117 0 L 12-1
4 4 Go Poppa Fooze Theriot H J II Norman Cole 119 0 L 9-2
5 5 Officer Rocket (GB) Hebert T J Holthus Robert E 122 0 L 7-2
6 6 Ice Man Cometh Bejarano R Violette Richard A Jr 117 0 L 15-1
7 7 Mistycal Light Hernandez B J Allen Randy 117 0 L 30-1
8 8 Birdbirdistheword Albarado R J McPeek Kenneth G 119 0 L 3-1
9 9 Pirates Deputy Gomez G K Baffert Bob 119 0 L 8-1
10 10 Freesgood Desormeaux K J Currin William L 119 0 L 6-1

officer rocket for sure anyone going to tucson next week?

I love betting that place. What is the stretch, like 300 feet?

I wouldn't count out Xchanger, especially with that 1 hole he drew.

This is the horse I like as well. I wont be betting this race because I do not know much about that track down there. It does seem to have some tight turns. And isnt it going to be around 3 turns? But one horse I know I dont like is Officer Rocket.

It is actually only 2 turns, but run out of a chute I think?

I believe you are correct. Thanks for the info.

Delta Fun Facts.
 

* I used to go to Delta when I lived in Houston circa 1980.

* Home track of Hallowed Dreams a LA bred who won 16 straight races.

* In 1990, Sylvester Carmouche finished first in a two-turn race started at the 1/8 pole which was run in very heavy fog. Only problem was that he stopped his horse just out of the gate and started "riding" when the rest of the field was coming around the stretch turn. Ole Sly got a 10 year vacation for that ride and served eight years. He was, ironically, Hallowed Dreams regular jock.

Here's a link to the fog race.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...57C0A966958260

The vote to suspend Carmouche was 7-1. I wonder who that 1 person was that voted against the suspension and the reasoning.