Luck of the Draw back quick for B-Connected
Luck of the Draw and Jax Man are among the favorites in the $70,000 B-Connected on Saturday at Delta Downs, but both have obstacles to overcome.
Luck of the Draw is wheeling back in less than two weeks in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana, while Jax Man is making his first start since June.
The B-Connected, which will be run around two turns, is for horses who have never won a stakes race.
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Luck of the Draw will be making his first start against Louisiana-breds since last February. He invades from Oaklawn, where he won an allowance over 1 1/16 miles Dec. 11, then was third in an optional $35,000 claiming starter allowance at the same distance there on Dec. 19.
“He’s doing good,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro. “He is coming back quick. He has come out of his races well.
“His last couple of races have been tougher than what some of these have been running against.”
Diodoro said he will be interested to see how Luck of the Draw handles the six-furlong track at Delta. The horse will break from post 7 under C.J. McMahon.
Jax Man last raced June 30 and has been working at Fair Grounds for his return. He has won off the bench in the past.
“There wasn’t a whole lot left for him, so it was a good time to give him a break,” said trainer Sam David Jr. “We had hoped to have a prep. But he’s working good, training good. Hopefully, he’ll give us one of his big races.
“We’d like to catch a little mud with him. All three of his mud races have been super.”
There is a small chance of rain Friday and a chance of scattered thunderstorms Saturday at Delta Downs.
Jax Man earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86 in the slop two starts ago, when second in the Louisiana Legends Classic at Evangeline Downs.
Casey Fusilier was aboard and has the mount again Saturday from post 10.
Bistraya can make an impact if he runs back to the Beyer Speed Figure of 84 that he earned two starts ago for winning a Nov. 19 allowance at Delta Downs. Tim Thornton has the mount for trainer Karl Broberg.
Two stakes at Sunland
Mighty Mischief is the 124-pound highweight in the $65,000 KLAQ Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park on the strength of his win in last year’s Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico.
The KLAQ is for 4-year-olds and up at five furlongs.
Also on the card, the second of the meet, is the $100,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap.
Mighty Mischief will break from the rail under Alfredo Juarez Jr. Steve Asmussen trains the son of Into Mischief for his breeders, Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.
The chief threat appears to be Competitive Idea, who is coming off a dead-heat win with Mr Money Bags in the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint on Nov. 23.
Sheza Dandy RF, Let It Roll, and Tight Fittin Jeans, who were separated by three-quarters of a length when running one-two-three in the New Mexico Cup Distaff Sprint in October at Zia Park, all meet again in the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap.
The 5 1/2-furlong race is for fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
Tight Fittin Jeans set the pace in New Mexico Cup Distaff Sprint, which was run at six furlongs. She is shortening up to her best distance Saturday, as she has won the last four times she’s raced at 5 1/2 furlongs. Enrique Gomez has the mount for trainer Greg Green.
Sheza Dandy RF stalked the pace in the New Mexico Cup Distaff en route to her half-length win over Let It Roll, who closed from last for second.
Count Them Again is the 121-pound highweight Saturday.