Sunday, November 24, 2013

Rise Up rises to the occasion in Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes

Jean Lafitte Stakes winner Rise Up declared that he could be a major force on next year's Derby trail when he romped to a six-length triumph in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Ridden to victory by Gerard Melancon, Rise Up got off to an excellent start from post position ten and quickly assumed command of the lead through an opening quarter mile in a quick :22.82 seconds. Mighty Brown, Roman Unbridled, Rum Point, Casiguapo, and Big Bazinga were also part of the early pace, while Whyruawesome, Flat Gone, Rankhasprivileges, and favored Coastline were the early trailers, the latter having stumbled badly at the start of the race.

Rise Up continued to lead through a half-mile in :46.30, but in the third quarter mile of the race, Casiguapo, Big Bazinga, and Rankhasprivileges moved up to challenge for the lead, with Coastline rallying into contention on the far outside. However, following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.94, Melancon asked Rise Up to run, and the colt responded with a burst of acceleration that left Casiguapo toiling in his wake. Passing the eighth pole, Rise Up led by three lengths, an advantage which he extended to six lengths at the finish line, which he reached in 1:44.71 for a mile and a sixteenth.

Casiguapo held well to place second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Rankhasprivileges, who flattened a bit out after his big move around the far turn. Roman Unbridled overcame a bit of stretch traffic to finish fourth at odds of 89-1. Completing the order of finish were Whyruawesome, Mighty Brown, Big Bazinga, Coastline, Flat Gone, and Rum Point.

Rise Up is trained by Tom Amoss and owned by Paul and Andrena Van Doren. A son of Rockport Harbor out of the Johannesburg mare Appenzell, Rise Up has now won four of his six starts, with earnings of $810,633.

-Keelerman

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