Delta Downs: Madame Cactus stretches out successfully in My Trusty Cat

Madame Cactus, who was a maiden winner last month in Southern California, conquered both two turns and stakes competition in her first attempt Friday night in the $150,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. She rallied for a two-length win in the opening-night stakes that served as the local prep for the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess on Nov. 17.

Madame Cactus ($5.60) settled in fifth in the early stages of the My Trusty Cat for 2-year-old fillies, as My Daughter’s Song and Ile St. Molly raced through fractions of 22.87 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.85 for the half-mile. Madame Cactus angled off the rail on the final turn, came into the stretch four wide, and went on to cover seven furlongs on a track rated fast in 1:27.29.

“We had a perfect trip,” said Richard Eramia, who rode the winner. “In the stretch, I opened up a little bit and she finished very well. She’s a very nice filly.”

Madame Cactus was making her first start for trainer Steve Asmussen after racing under the care of trainer Peter Eurton in Southern California. The filly, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marc C. Ferrell, has now won 2 of 3 starts. In her debut in August she was second in a maiden special weight at Del Mar. One start later, Madame Cactus romped by six lengths in a maiden special weight sprint at Santa Anita. She is a daughter of Cactus Ridge.

Sittin At the Bar finished second in the My Trusty Cat, a length and three-quarters in front of third-place finisher Cayllano. Custody and Wahine Bling were scratched Friday.

Madame Cactus earned $90,000 for the win, which pushed her earnings to $132,000.

The Delta Princess will be run on the same card as the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. The races are the biggest of the meet at Delta Downs.