VINTON, La. - Gerard Melancon won the Delta Downs Jackpot for the second time in three years, guiding Rise Up to a six-length victory Saturday in the $1 million race.
Rise Up, trained by Tom Amoss, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.71 and paid $6.20, $4 and $2.80. Casiguapo returned $6 and $4 while Rankhasprivileges paid $4 to show in the field of 10 2-year-olds.
Rise Up finished first in his previous race Oct. 26, the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs. The Jackpot was his fifth career start and fourth victory.
“I knew we had a great horse coming out of the 10 hole,” Melancon said. “I think going a mile and 1/16th, the 10 hole is really a great spot. I had all kinds of options.”
Rise Up also earned 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Casiguapo earned four points, Rankhasprivileges two and Roman Unbridled one.
Three horses from last year’s Delta Downs Jackpot went on to race in the Kentucky Derby.
Melancon said Rise Up “got a little rank” at the beginning with a couple horses inside of him.
“I was like, ‘Well, I don’t want to get hung up in a speed duel with these.’ If I’m going to go fast, I’d rather be by myself where maybe I can get a little breather,” Melancon said. “He came back to me and set his ears straight up and I was like, ‘This is where I want you.’ Around the turn, I said from here if they beat us, they’re going to have to outrun us.”
Sports, Pages 25 on 11/24/2013