Father and son battle in Owner Appreciation Distaff
There will be a father and son faceoff in the $75,000 Owner Appreciation Distaff on Friday at Delta Downs, where trainer Scott Gelner sends out Strummer in search of her fifth straight win and his son Jayde Gelner saddles multiple stakes winner Shes Our Fastest.
The Owner Appreciation Distaff is for fillies and mares who have started in a non-stakes race at the Delta meet. It comes on the penultimate card of the season, with the $75,000 Owner Appreciation Cup highlighting the card Saturday. The latter race drew Louisiana Premier Championship winner Langs Day.
After losing her first five starts, Strummer started her streak last April at Delta, when she won a maiden special weight over Louisiana-breds. She’s continued to keep statebred company, winning conditioned allowances in October at Delta and in December at Fair Grounds. Strummer last raced Dec. 31, winning the $70,000 Lookout at Delta at the same 7 1/2-furlong distance of the Owner Appreciation Distaff by three lengths.
“She looked real impressive,” Scott Gelner said. “It was a step forward for her, and she handled it with ease.
“We just don’t really know how good she is. She’s won four in a row and was never pushed in all four races.”
The Owner Appreciation Distaff is a new test for Strummer, as it comes against open company. The 2-1 morning-line favorite is Tizafeelin, who in her last start won a Delta Downs allowance with a field-best Beyer Speed Figure of 83.
As for Strummer, the 4-year-old daughter of Star Guitar has come to hand nicely this meet for Oak Tree Stables and Gelner.
“I just think more than anything we let her mature,” Gelner said. “We gave her last summer off. She’s a real big filly. We just let her mature and waited to run her back in the fall.”
Strummer had been intended for a start in the Louisiana Premier Distaff in February, but got sick and was scratched.
“But she’s doing good,” Gelner said. “She’s breezed good.”
C.J. McMahon has the mount from post 9.
“Her last few races she’s gone to the front, but I don’t think she needs the lead to win,” Gelner said. “I think she can sit off of it.”
Jayde Gelner won Feb. 25 at Delta with his first starter when Wholelottamo won the $75,000 Take Charge Brandi. Gelner, 21, has been the assistant to his father for about three years. He said he went out on his own about a month ago. After the Delta meet, he will head to Lone Star Park with a stable of 25 horses and plans to remain on the Texas circuit.
Shes Our Fastest was a top Texas-bred runner last year who is approaching career earnings of $500,000. She is moving back to dirt after finishing sixth on the grass in the $75,000 Miss Bluebonnet at Sam Houston. Shes Our Fastest has been first, second, or third in eight of her nine starts at Delta.
“I expect a big effort,” Jayde Gelner said. “I thought the last race on the grass, she really didn’t care for it. Cooling her out, she was jumping and bucking. She’s come back and trained lights out.”
Thomas Pompell has the mount from post 8.