Delta Downs notes: Bern Identity staying for Delta Jackpot

Bern Identity, who shipped from New York to Louisiana to win Saturday night’s $200,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs, will remain at the Vinton, La., track for the next month to prepare for the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, trainer Kelly Breen said. The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds is Nov. 17.

Bern Identity, who won the Grade 2 Sanford this summer at Saratoga, was making his two-turn debut in the Jean Lafitte. He launched a four-wide bid around the final turn of the one-mile race, then darted home by three lengths. For the effort, Bern Identity earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“He’s doing well,” Breen said Monday. “As of right now, we’re pointing for the Jackpot.

“He’ll stay at Delta.”

Breen said Monday that Bern Identity would not be pre-entered in any of the 2-year-old races of this year’s Breeders’ Cup. Breen trains Bern Identity for George and Lori Hall, and the owner-trainer team has been a regular participant in the Jackpot. The stable’s best finish was a second in 2008, with West Side Bernie.

The Jackpot is the richest race at Delta, which opened its meet last Friday.

◗ Jockey Don Simington broke his collarbone when he was thrown from his mount in Saturday night’s second race at Delta Downs, according to his agent, Ron Ardoin.