Delta Downs: Jean Lafitte returns as Jackpot prep

Delta Downs, which in April announced that the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot would be run on a special afternoon program Nov. 19, recently released its entire 30-race, $4 million stakes schedule. The most notable change is that the $200,000 Jean Lafitte for 2-year-olds at a mile will be returning to a fall date to serve as a prep for the Jackpot.

Delta had moved the Jean Lafitte to January last meet, and with the calendar change the race became a 3-year-old stakes. But for the upcoming meet, the Jean Lafitte will open the stakes schedule Oct. 22. It will share a card with the $150,000 My Trusty Cat, a seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies that last season was also run in January. The calendar move for the My Trusty Cat also enables the two-turn race to resume its role as a prep, for the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess on the Jackpot card Nov. 19.

Delta will begin its 88-date meet on Oct. 19. It will run through March 17, 2012.

The Jackpot, at 1 1/16 miles, is one of eight stakes worth a collective $2.1 million on Nov. 19. It is the richest program of the meet. The season’s other big card is the $1 million Louisiana Premiere Night program of 10 stakes for Louisiana-breds on Feb. 4.