Delicate Dynamite wins thriller

Delicate Dynamite edged out Eyes on Eddy in a thrilling stretch duel to win the $75,000 Chou Croute Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

Jockey Gerard Melancon allowed Delicate Dynamite to settle in fourth behind a leisurely pace of 24.67 for the quarter and 49.05 for the half-mile set by Kregsville, with Eyes on Eddy pressuring her under Donnie Meche.

"I was a little concerned about the pace," said Melancon, "but I knew [Eyes on Eddy] was the horse to beat."

Melancon took Delicate Dynamite off the rail on the far turn and asked her for run just as Eyes on Eddy was hitting the front. By midstretch the two horses were locked in a furious battle.

"Donnie had a lot of horse under him, and when I came up to her she took off again," said Melancon. "But my horse was determined."

Culinary finished another nine lengths back in third.

Delicate Dynamite ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.09 and paid $3.40.

Also on the card, Mi Isabella succeeded as the favorite in the $75,000 Sarah Lane's Oates, a mile grass test for 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies.