Jean Lafitte's two turns to test Drain the Clock

Drain the Clock will be putting a perfect record on the line Monday when he makes his two-turn debut in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs.

“It’s a change,” said his trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr. “You never know until they do it.”

The Jean Lafitte, which will be run over seven furlongs, is for 2-year-olds. The field of seven includes horses who last raced in California, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky.

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Drain the Clock is in from Florida, where he has won both of his starts. He wired a maiden special weight field by six lengths in the slop Sept. 12 at Gulfstream Park, then backed up the victory with a length score in a first-level allowance on a fast track Oct. 28 at Gulfstream Park West.

“So far, he’s done everything right,” said Joseph, who trains Drain the Clock for Slam Dunk Racing. “Hopefully, he can take the next step.”

Drain the Clock is a son of Maclean’s Music and the Arch mare Manki. He will break from post 3 under jockey Heriberto Figueroa.

“He’s got tactical speed,” Joseph said. “He doesn’t need the lead. He can put himself in a good spot.”

Joseph also has entered Awesome Gerry, who will bring a contrasting style into the Jean Lafitte when he breaks from post 4 under Tim Thornton.

“He’s always come from off the pace,” Joseph said.

Awesome Gerry last raced in Kentucky, finishing fourth in the $125,000 Nyquist on Nov. 6 at Keeneland. Before that race, he won back-to-back starts in Florida, including a first-level allowance by 5 1/4 lengths on Oct. 2 at Gulfstream Park West.

“Keeneland was a tough race,” Joseph said of the Nyquist, a 6 1/2-furlong race that went in a blazing 1:14.99.

Awesome Gerry will be moving to two turns for the first time Monday.

“The added distance should help him.” said Joseph, who trains the son of Liam’s Map for John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Timot Pinch.

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Drain the Clock and Awesome Gerry will both be racing on Lasix for the first time, as will Dyn O Mite, who comes off a maiden special weight win at Golden Gate, and Generator, who was fourth in a $50,000 starter allowance at Churchill Downs in his last start Nov. 18.

Privet Moon invades off a four-length maiden special weight win at Indiana.

Joseph, a multiple title winner at his base of Gulfstream, has been active in the Delta stakes program over opening week and could be even more visible in this region soon as he said he hopes to have a division of horses at Oaklawn Park.