Delta Jackpot Stakes: A Derby Win and You're In -- if you're lucky

I believe many will agree that Sabercat, winner of the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) two days ago, is one of the more exciting prospects for next year's Kentucky Derby. He is assured a berth in the race thanks to the $600,000 in graded earnings that he picked up for his victory. But while many conceive the Delta Jackpot as a "Win and You're In" for the Kentucky Derby, this is far from being the case.

Since 2007, when the race received graded status for the first time, four horses have claimed the title of Delta Jackpot champion. They are Z Humor, Big Drama, Rule, and Gourmet Dinner.

Z Humor is the only one to have made it to the Kentucky Derby. In the Delta Jackpot, he tracked a quick early pace before finishing in a dead-heat for the win with Turf War. However, he proved rather disappointing the following year, failing to crack the exacta in his three Derby preps before finishing fourteenth behind Big Brown in the Derby.

Big Drama won the 2008 Delta Jackpot, dueling for the lead before holding off a late charge from West Side Bernie to narrowly win. He raced successfully the following spring -- but in sprint races. It soon became apparent that the horse was best as a sprinter, and so his connections passed on the Kentucky Derby. As we all know, Big Drama won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), affirming that the Derby distance would have been far beyond his capabilities.

In 2009, Rule was the name rolling off of everyone's tongues when he defeated Uh Oh Bango in sharp fashion. The following spring, he took the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) before finishing third in the Florida Derby (gr. I). While he did make it to Churchill Downs, he was not entered after failing to train sufficiently well to warrant a start in the Derby.

Gourmet Dinner blew past his opponents in the 2010 edition of the Delta Jackpot, defeating Decisive Moment in brilliant fashion, but after some strong early-season performances this spring, he dropped off of the Derby trail due to injury.

So while it is true that the $600,000 winner's share of the purse does theoretically secure the winner a start in the following year's Kentucky Derby, one must have a lot of luck to actually make it to Churchill for the big race. Hopefully, Sabercat will avoid injury and continue to make progress along the daunting Triple Crown Trail.

-Keelerman