Comic Truth backed by strong barn

VINTON, La. - On Sunday night, 2-year-olds will contest the Jean Lafitte Stakes for the second time this year at Delta Downs. But there are few similarities between the two races.

The $75,000 Jean Lafitte Futurity, traditionally the lone bright spot of the spring stakes program here, has been run at four furlongs during the first week of April in recent years. On Sunday, it has been changed to a two-turn, seven-furlong race. The new spot on the calendar has attracted a group of youngsters with much more established form than when the Jean Lafitte was run in the spring.

In addition to most of the purse, the winner will receive a free berth in the $500,000 Delta Jackpot Stakes, which will be run here on Dec. 21.

Heading the field is Comic Truth, who is owned by K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman. Trained by Cole Norman, ranked third in the nation in wins, Comic Truth won the Pioneer Stakes at Louisiana Downs and the Lafayette Stakes at Evangeline Downs before finishing fourth in the Arlington-Washington Futurity in his most recent start. Comic Truth, a son of Proudest Romeo, will carry top weight of 120 pounds and will be ridden by Jamie Theriot.

Givetheboyacigar, a developing Native Regent colt owned by Chris Jean and trained by Mike Stidham, will be making his first start in a stakes in the Jean Lafitte. He won at first asking at Arlington Park in September and followed that effort with a second in allowance company. Eddie Martin will be in to ride at 115 pounds.

Former Norman trainee Sanctuary's Omooni, stakes-placed at Louisiana Downs earlier in the year and now trained by Bret Thomas, has the benefit of a race over the track at Sunday's distance. After stalking the pace last Saturday in a statebred allowance test for nonwinners-of-two, he kicked clear late to prevail by almost two lengths. C. J. Woodley will ride.

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