ALLEN LANDRY TRAINEE GETS CLEAR LATE TO NIP LIGHTNING STRUCK AT THE WIRE

 

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the $75,000 Big Drama Stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday afternoon and it was Ellen Epstein’s Vodka Gimlet who got the win under jockey Thomas Pompell. It was the second straight stakes victory for the Allen Landry trainee as he also won the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Day Prince at Delta Downs just 21 days earlier.

 

In the early stages of the Big Drama it was a speed duel between Brian’s Iron Mike and Feisty Fist, who clicked off early fractions of 23.57 seconds for the quarter mile and 47.47 for the half. The pair began to feel pressure from the closers as they entered the second turn of the seven-furlong affair as Totalizer came to the attack three wide wile Vodka Gimlet was bottled up behind rivals.

 

As the field entered the top of the homestretch after traveling three-quarters in 1:14.61, Vodka Gimlet angled out from behind horses and took aim at Lightning Struck and Totalizer who were dueling inside the sixteenth pole. In the final strides Vodka Gimlet was able to overhaul his rivals and record the win by a neck over Lightning Struck while Totalizer settled for third, another ¾ of a length behind the top pair.

 

Vodka Gimlet stopped the clock in 1:28.59 over a track what was listed as fast all day.

 

Vodka Gimlet has now won three races lifetime from seven overall starts. His $45,000 paycheck on Saturday upped his career bankroll to $147,645.

 

Bred in Louisiana by 5 B Farm, Inc, Vodka Gimlet is a 3-year-old bay gelding by Goldencents, out of the Out of Place mare Shy Baby.

 

Sent to the gate at odds of 8-5, Vodka Gimlet paid $5.40 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show. Lightning Struck returned $10.80 to place and $5.20 to show. Totalizer was worth $3.40 to show.

 

Delta Downs will conclude its 2021-22 Thoroughbred season next Wednesday through Saturday. Post time each day is scheduled for 12:55 pm.

 

Delta Downs will wrap up its next-to-last race week on Saturday with another nine-race program starting at 12:55 pm. The featured race is the $75,000 Big Drama Stakes for 3-year-olds competing at seven furlongs.

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. Fro