Appeal filed over Delta Jackpot

The owner and trainer of Golden Yank, who finished third in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot, have appealed the decision of the Delta Downs stewards to disallow a foul claim that the horse's rider, Gerard Melancon, made concerning bumping in the late stages of the Dec. 7 race.

The appeal from the Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust and trainer Gary Thomas was received by the Louisiana Racing Commission on Tuesday. It will be heard at the panel's meeting in New Orleans on Friday, said Charles Gardiner, executive director of the commission.

"It appeals the inaction of the stewards rather than any particular action," said Gardiner.

Golden Yank was part of a three-horse photo in the Delta Jackpot, which was won in a dead heat by Z Humor and Turf War. Golden Yank finished third by a neck after racing between the dead-heat winners in the late stages.

The purse money from the Jackpot has not yet been distributed, as postrace test samples are still in the process of being cleared. The Jackpot purse offered a large sum of graded money that could be a factor in starting preferences for next year's Kentucky Derby. As the race result stands, Z Humor and Turf War each earned $400,000, and Golden Yank picked up $100,000.