Grand Facile hangs on in Delicada

After setting most of the pace, Grand Facile dug in gamely to prevail by a head in the $50,000 Delicada Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Odds-on favorite Plaid lodged a late bid between horses but was unable to overtake the winner and was forced to settle for second. Raspberry Wine finished a nose farther back in third, and I. B.'s Halo was fourth. Only a quarter-length separated the first four finishers.

Ridden by Tracy Hebert, Grand Facile ($8.20) cleared the field onto the backstretch of the 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares before Hebert began to back the pace down. Following a three-quarter split of 1:12.84, Grand Facile was headed by Raspberry Wine before battling back courageously and proving best in a final time of 1:45.32 over a fast track.

Trained by James Hodges, Grand Facile has now won 5 of her 14 starts and earned over $265,000.