Delta Downs Jackpot pre-entries led by Gunnevera

Gunnevera, winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, and Pat On the Back, a New York-bred stakes winner, were among 20 horses pre-entered Tuesday in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. The mile and a sixteenth race for 2-year-olds will be run Nov. 19.

Delta, which is located in Vinton, La., also took pre-entries for the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess, and 14 horses were pre-entered Tuesday, including multiple stakes winner Cajun Delta Dawn. The one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies also will be run Nov. 19.

Final entries for both races will be taken on Nov. 11.

The Jackpot and Princess will both be limited to a field of 10 horses on the six-furlong track at Delta. Line Judge, who was pre-entered in the Jackpot, gets first preference into the race by virtue of his win in the local prep, the Jean Lafitte, while Golden Mischief gets the same perk for the Princess after capturing the My Trusty Cat last month at Delta.

Gunnevera will secure a spot in the gate under the race’s second preference, winners of a Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes. The third preference is first, second or third in a graded stakes, and the fourth preference is highest lifetime earnings at the time of pre-entries.

Gunnevera races for Peacock Racing Stables and is trained by Antonio Sano. Pat On the Back, who in his last start won the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park, races for Harold Lerner and is trained by Ken McPeek.

The other horses pre-entered were Tip Tap Tapizar, Thirstforlife, Hot Sean, Balandeen, Jack Snipes, Our Stormin Norman, Dangerfield, J Boys Echo, Uncontested, Gemacho, Floroplus, Dupree, Forest Waltz, Dilettante, Gasprom, Hamptons Holiday, and Silver Dust.

The remaining fillies pre-entered in the Princess were Bossy Alexandra, Caroline Test, Chanel’s Legacy, Crown and Seven, Dude Fantasy, Flatter Up, Forest Circle, Jet Away Sue, Jilly, Loving Valentina, San Antonio Stroll, and Shane’s Girlfriend, who was a supplement to the Princess.

The Jackpot carries a total of 17 eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby and the Princess does the same for the Kentucky Oaks. The points are divided among the first four finishers in each race on a scale of 10-4-2-1.