Calhoun going after stakes double in Fremont, Pelican

Trainer Bret Calhoun will seek a stakes double Saturday night at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., when he sends out Supermason in the $70,000 Fremont and Lucky Andy in the $100,000 Pelican.

The two-turn races are sharing a card after the Pelican was postponed on two occasions this month due to the equine herpesvirus positives at Fair Grounds. Delta had placed its stable area on lockdown in response to the positives; it opened its gates to shippers again last Monday.

The Fremont is a one-mile race for 4-year-olds and up who have never won a stakes, excluding statebred or restricted races. The Pelican is a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana.

Lucky Andy will be making his second stakes start in the Pelican, following a runner-up finish in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy on the Delta Downs Jackpot undercard Nov. 19. The winner of the Louisiana Legacy, Magic Vow, also returns for the Pelican, while Underpressure, who is undefeated in two starts, could go favored in the 10-horse field for trainer Chris Richard.

Fremont (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Supermason, by Grasshopper
Last 3 Beyers: 77-79-76

◗ His stakes success has come against restricted rivals; his most recent such score was in the $50,000 Assault for Texas-breds in July at Lone Star Park. He will be stretching back out to the one-mile distance of that race after running fifth in the $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at six furlongs Nov. 24 at Fair Grounds.

◗ Supermason brings excellent speed to the table and, after dueling in the Thanksgiving Handicap, figures to set the pace in the Fremont. He wired the field in the Assault and earlier in the Lone Star meet used the same tactics to win a 7 1/2-furlong turf allowance in a course-record time of 1:26.80.

◗ Ricardo Morales has the mount from post 2 for Brad Grady.

Mageez, by Musket Man
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-78

◗ He was a restricted stakes winner last out at Delta Downs, taking the $65,000 B-Connected. He closed from last for a 1 1/2-length win in the one-mile race run in the mud Dec. 31.

◗ Ashley Broussard was aboard, and she again has the mount for Double Dam Farm and trainer Delmar Caldwell.

◗ Mageez ran second in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds one start prior to the B-Connected.