Woodbine Shipper Lured To Delta Jackpot

Woodbine based and Mark Casse trained, Blue Laser, has been posted as the morning line favourite in the $1 million Delta Jackpot taking place on later this afternoon at Delta Downs. The Winstar Farms owned horse skipped the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for the Delta Jackpot, a race that could guarantee the winner a spot in the Kentucky Derby in May. Another horse who has run at Woodbine against Blue Laser, Classic Legacy, is also in the field, but he will most likely race in California after this one concludes. Since racing at Woodbine earlier this year, he is now in Bob Baffert's barn. Here's how I see the one mile and one sixteenth race playing out today:

Early Pace

As the field breaks from the gate, I see Aces N Kings breaking best along with Rush Now, Bug Juice, Decesive Moment and Sweet Ducky. As these horses set the early pace, Gourmet Dinner, Clubhouse Ride and Dreamsrunwild will probably sit just off the lead, with Classic Legacy and Blue Laser being the early trailors. This whole field will be tightly packed together I believe, with no more than five or six lengths separating the leader with the back.

The Backstretch

As the five horses up front jostle for position on the early lead, look for Classic Legacy to begin making a move towards the final turn. This race will begin to pick up in that turn, and look for the horses on the front end to continue to lead into the stretch. Many of them, like Aces N Kings, have won on the front end with good times at this distance.

The Stretch

I think this race is going to have a great finish, with horses on the front end still being able to contend for the lead. Blue Laser and Classic Legacy will be in the mix, but I'm concerned that their lack of experience on dirt may have an impact on this race. Blue Laser has had some quality works on dirt, so I have to put him ahead of Classic Legacy. I personally like a closer in this race, so I'm going to slide Clubhouse Ride into the top spot, with Bug Juice a close second. I'll put Blue Laser in the third spot, with Sweet Ducky filling out the superfecta.

1. Clubhouse Ride
2. Bug Juice
3. Blue Laser
4. Sweet Ducky

With Woodbine being my home track, I'll be cheering hard for Blue Laser and Mark Casse. It would be great for me personally to see a horse who used most of his two-year-old season to prepare at Woodbine start in the Derby. It's very likely that after this winter and the Derby, we may not see Blue Laser back at Woodbine for the rest of his career. Enjoy the Delta Jackpot everyone and feel free to post your selections in the comment box!

Posted in: Triple Crown,US Tracks,Woodbine