Louisiana Lace wins maiden in stakes

VINTON, La. - Louisiana Lace ($50.60), winless in three previous starts, broke her maiden in surprising fashion Saturday night at Delta Downs in the $60,000 Creme de la Creme Stakes. Fellow longshot Scarlet Rain finished second in the event for 2-year Louisiana-bred fillies to complete a lucrative $1,667.20 exacta, followed by Reckon. Even-money favorite Steam That Kettle gave way in the drive after setting the early pace. La Vie and Rocket Reese were late scratches.

Trained by Steven Duke and ridden by Gerard Melancon, Louisiana Lace was wearing blinkers for the first time. She picked up $36,000 and completed the five furlongs over a muddy strip in 1:01.19.

Later on the program, Not Grounded ($10) outdueled 1-2 choice Foreign Dancer to win the $60,000 Calcasieu Stakes for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds. Sweet Dixieland reported home third.

The win was Not Grounded's second stakes win as the John Gelner trainee also accounted for the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs last July. He was ridden by veteran Curt Bourque and covered the five furlongs in 59.40 en route to increasing his earnings to over $130,000.