– PEDRO COTTO, JR. RIDES BAY FILLY TO SECOND CONSECUTIVE STAKES TALLY –

 

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel Stakes on Friday afternoon and the event turned into a runaway by Gerald Bruno, Jr.’s Free Like a Girl, who had Pedro Cotto, Jr. in the saddle for trainer Chasey Deville Pomier.

 

Free Like a Girl came into the Jewel off a winning performance at Evangeline Downs in the D. S. Shine Young Futurity on September 18 and was attempting a two-turn race for the first time in her career as the Jewel was contested at seven furlongs. Delta Downs is a six-furlong racetrack.

 

The challenge to win back-to-back in stakes company by Free Like a Girl was accepted as she rallied from off the pace of 24.79 seconds for the opening quarter mile and 47.94 for the half set by Averi Ever After before taking the lead turning for home. In the upper-stretch Free Like a Girl kept widening her margin and finished the race an astounding 18 ½ lengths to the good of Streak of Silver who finished second. Serape was another

2 ¼-lengths behind in third.

 

Free Like a Girl covered the distance over a fast track in 1:28.38.

 

Free Like a Girl has now won three of seven lifetime races and has never finished off the board. Her career bankroll now stands at $135,713 after earning $60,000 for her effort in the Jewel.

 

Bred in Louisiana by Kim Renee Stover & Lisa Osborne, Free Like a Girl is a 2-year-old bay filly by El Deal, out of the Munnings mare Flashy Prize.

 

Installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, Free Like a Girl was not respected on the toteboard as she left the gate at 6-1 and returned $15.20 to win, $5 to place and $4.40 to show. Streak of Silver was worth $4.60 to place and $3.60 to show. Serape paid $5.40 to show.

 

Delta Downs will close out the race week on Saturday with another 10-race program set to kick off at 12:55 pm CT. Headlining the card will be the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy for 2-year-olds scheduled as the eighth race.

 

For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about the track 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.