– TOM AMOSS TRAINEE WINS HER LOCAL DEBUT WITH GERARD MELANCON UP –

 VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the $100,000 Magnolia Stakes for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares on Friday night and it was Big World who came away with the victory under jockey Gerard Melancon. The Tom Amoss trainee was one of two graded stakes winners in the field and used her class to win her local debut for owner Maggi Moss.

After breaking from the gate in ninth position out of 10 starters, Big World began methodically moving up through the field as Kinky Vow set early fractions of 23.20 for the quarter-mile and 47.54 for the half. As the field entered the second of two turns Melancon struck the front with his mount who proceeded to pull clear after running three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.52. In the stretch Big World drew clear and was never threatened, reporting home 3-1/4 lengths in front of runner up Sunny Oak while Forest Lake rallied belatedly for third another ¾ of a length behind the top pair. Big World covered the one-mile distance over a fast track in 1:39.29.

The win by Big World was her third from six lifetime starts. She broke her maiden at Saratoga in September of 2015 before winning the Tempted Stakes (Gr. 3) at Aqueduct in November of last year. Friday’s score added another $60,000 to her bankroll which now stands at $253,600.

Bred in Louisiana by Curt Leake & Elm Tree Farm, LLC, Big World is a 3-year-old bay runner by Custom for Carlos, out of the Broken Vow mare Tensas Wedding. She was purchased as a yearling in 2014 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale in Florida for $98,000.

Sent to the gate as the wagering favorite at odds of just over even money, Big World returned $4.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Sunny Oak was worth $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Forests Lake paid $3.20 to show.

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.