Louisiana Downs: Look for Rock N Rail late

Jockey John Jacinto will wrap up what has been an outstanding Louisiana Downs season when he rides Rock N Rail in the closing-day feature, a one-mile turf allowance that drew stakes winners Bamboo Gap, Candy Ball, Commander Buck, and Cajun Conquest.

Rock N Rail should get a decent pace to fuel his late kick, as a number of starters in the field have speed, including the mare Candy Ball, who will be taking on males for her first start since February. Rock N Rail, trained by Pamela Simpson, used his late run to win a pair of turf races at Louisiana Downs in May and June.

He is the last scheduled mount of the meet for Jacinto, who entered the final week of racing with 108 wins and $2.2 million in mount earnings, tops in both categories among all riders at Louisiana Downs. He had a 12-win advantage in the standings as of Friday.

"Winning the title was my goal from the beginning, so I'm glad it happened," said Jacinto, who this winter will be based at Fair Grounds for the first time since 2005.