By Derek Simon
Saturday’s Louisiana Premier Night at Delta Downs features 11 races for accredited Louisiana-breds, with six events offering a purse of $100K or more.
Among the more interesting betting races of the day (at least to me) are the second, third and sixth.
Although there are several hard-hitting fillies and mares in the second race, the Bon Temps Starter Stakes, I have great affinity for 8-LEAVE EM COUNTING, who has won 11 of 30 lifetime starts and is 2-for-2 since moving to the barn of Karl Broberg.
In the next race, the Gentlemen Starter Stakes, I’m intrigued by 6-LOU’S DELTA BLUES—another older horse that has been touched by the magic of Broberg, a trainer with a 25 percent lifetime winning average (eat your heart out H Allen Jerkens, Charlie Whittingham and D. Wayne Lukas).
Lastly, in the $150,000 Distaff Stakes (race 6), 2-OH BABY OH BABY looks like deserving 6-5 morning line favorite, as she attempts to win her fifth in a row. On the negative side, the daughter of Orientate could be very vulnerable if she doesn’t get the early lead, so watch for a negative show pool and bet accordingly.
