The Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana, from 2002 to 2017. It was a Grade III stakes race for two-year-old horses and was considered the signature race of the Delta Downs meet.
Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes: History and Status
The Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes was discontinued after the 2017 running was canceled due to Hurricane Harvey. The management could not reach an agreement with the local horsemen's group regarding the race's future, as the horsemen preferred to distribute the prize money to strengthen overnight purses rather than concentrate it on a single major event.
• Location: Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana.
• Distance: Raced over 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
• Purse: The purse was famously increased to $1 million, making it the second-richest race for two-year-olds in North America behind only the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
• Significance: The race awarded qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, and its winner's share of the purse virtually guaranteed a berth in the Derby starting gate.
Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes Notable Winners
Past winners of the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes included several horses who went on to success in other major races, for example Exaggerator (2015): Later won the Preakness Stakes, Gunnevera (2016): Dominated his race and later competed in top-tier stakes, Take Charge Brandi (2014): The filly's win in the companion race, the Delta Princess Stakes, contributed to her being named the Eclipse Award-winning Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.
