Ide Be Cool, Ibaka clash in Borgata

Ide Be Cool and Ibaka both went through spells as habitual winners. Ide Be Cool won the first seven races of his career, and Ibaka knocked out five straight wins at one point. Both will be out to start new streaks Saturday night in the $75,000 Borgata, the closing-night feature at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

The Borgata is a one-mile race for 4-year-olds and up who have started at Delta or its sister track, Evangeline Downs, in 2014 or 2015, excluding stakes. The race has drawn a field of eight.

Borgata, race 10

KEY CONTENDERS

Ide Be Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 80-86-64)

◗ He was voted the 2013 Horse of the Year in Louisiana for his perfect 2-year-old season, in which he went 4 for 4. His streak continued into his 3-year-old season, with a pair of stakes wins at Delta and an allowance score at Louisiana Downs.

◗ Ide Be Cool has wintered at Delta and in three starts at the meet has run sixth in the $100,000 Gold Cup on Nov. 1, then second in the $200,000 Premier Night Championship on Feb. 7, and second in an optional $30,000 claimer at 7 1/2 furlongs Feb. 25.

◗ Diego Saenz has the mount on Ide Be Cool, who races for his trainer, Ray Dunn.

Ibaka (Last 3 Beyers: 87-70-86)

◗ His win streak ran from January 2014 to August 2014 and included wins in three straight stakes – two of the divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes and the Texas Heritage over open company at Sam Houston.

◗ Ibaka last raced at Sam Houston and was third in an optional $30,000 claimer Feb. 20. He was the favorite and finished behind a pair of stakes winners in Got Shades and Holiday Mischief.

◗ Colby Hernandez has the mount for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Mr. Bandini’s Band (Last 3 Beyers: 79-74-69)

◗ He exits the same optional claimer as Ide Be Cool and finished third, beaten four lengths by the victorious Bellarmine.

◗ Mr. Bandini’s Band was making his first start since December and has reason to move forward Saturday.

Bellarmine (Last 3 Beyers: 87-87-82)

◗ He was an odds-on favorite in the optional claimer he won over Ide Be Cool, one start after finishing third in the restricted Fremont at Delta on Jan. 17.

◗ Bellarmine moved into this region after racing in California. He also has competed in Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, and Kentucky.