Bitsy's Afleet, Midnight Ruler win closing-night stakes

An odds-on favorite and a 30-1 longshot accounted for the closing-night stakes Saturday at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

Bitsy’s Afleet delivered at 4-5 in the $80,000 Pelican, while Midnight Ruler paid $62.80 after wiring the field in the $80,000 Owner Appreciation Cup.

The Pelican was for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana. Bitsy’s Afleet ($3.80) sat off fractions of 23.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.82 for the half-mile before going on to win the 6 1/2-furlong race run around two turns in 1:19.69. The track was fast for the race, which also was restricted to non-winners of a sweepstakes.

Marcelino Pedroza rode Bitsy’s Afleet for trainer Sam David Jr. The horse won by 2 1/2 lengths over Grand Luwegee.

Bitsy’s Afleet is a son of Northern Afleet who races for Earl and Rose Hernandez. He has now won three of four starts and earned $110,400.

The Owner Appreciation Cup was restricted to horses who had raced during the Delta meet that opened in October. Midnight Ruler set fractions of 23.07 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.59 for the half-mile, and 1:12.84 for six furlongs and went on to win the one-mile race in 1:38.97.

Rico Flores was aboard for trainer Tim Dixon. Midnight Ruler won by three lengths over Bellarmine.

Midnight Ruler is a son of Sonny Dom’s Day who races for I.P.C. Stables. He has now won eight of 29 starts and earned $175,428. Midnight Ruler was bred in Arkansas and with his win stamped himself as the early favorite for the $100,000 Arkansas Breeders’ on April 7 at Oaklawn.

He came into the Owner Appreciation Cup off a pair of runner-up finishes at Delta, his latest an optional $40,000 claiming race won by Bellarmine.