VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its first week of live Thoroughbred racing for the 2022-23 season on Saturday and the nine-race program featured the $100,000 Gold Cup Stakes for 3-year-old and up Louisiana-bred competing at seven furlongs. The event was won by Allied Racing Stables, LLC’s Who Took the Money under jockey Deshawn Parker.

Using a come-from-behind style in a race with plenty of pace, Who Took the Money rallied strongly around the second turn to garner the lead in the upper-stretch and go on to a 7-1/4 length win at the finish line. The early pace of 22.80 second for the quarter mile and 46.94 for the half was set by Brians Iron Mike. But as the field turned for home it was Who Took the Money who found the lead and went on to the score. Brians Iron Mike stayed on for second while Relentless Dancer settled for third another fourt lengths behind the runner-up.

The final time for Who Took the Money in the Gold Cup was 1:24.51 seconds, just 20/100ths off the track record set by No Its not in 2003. Each race on the Saturday card was contested over a fast track.

Who Took the Money was making his local debut in the Gold Cup and was also coming off a five-month layoff. His last start before the race came in the Evangeline Downs Classic back in May, which he also won. The Gold Cup tally was his eighth from 12 overall starts and his fourth in stakes company. He earned $60,000 for his effort on Saturday and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $347,677.

Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Who Took the Money is a 4-year-old chestnut gelding by Steet Boss, out of the Speightstown mare Speights’ Colony.

Sent to the gate at odds of 8-5, Who Took the Money paid $5.40 to win, $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Brian’s Iron Mike was worth $8.40 to place and $6.20 to show. Relentless Dancer returned $5.60 to show.

Delta Downs will race again next Wednesday through Saturday nights. First post time each evening is at 4:55 pm.

For more information about the new season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information on Facebook and Twitter.