Mocito Rojo continues love affair with Delta Downs

Mocito Rojo has done some of his best work at Delta Downs and he kept that trend going Saturday night when he fought off favorite Line Judge for a half-length win in the $60,000 Owner Appreciation Cup.

Gentrified was third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Line Judge.

The mile race was restricted to 3-year-olds and up who had run in the overnight ranks at Delta since the current meet opened Oct. 17. It was the final stakes of the meet, which closes with a special afternoon card Tuesday.

Mocito Rojo ($6.20) improved his Delta record to 7 for 10. He showed speed from the bell in the race, dueling with Midnight Ruler through fractions of 22.85 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.20 for the half-mile before taking over through six furlongs in 1:12.67.

Mocito Rojo had more in the stretch when Line Judge made a run at him, winning in 1:40.04 on a track rated fast. Filemon Rodriguez was aboard for trainer Shane Wilson.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Wilson said. “He likes to win.”

Mocito Rojo has now won 13 races from 21 starts. He is owned by Wayne T. Davis, who said in a post race interview at Delta that he will be 90 in June.

Mocito Rojo is a 5-year-old son of Mutadda. He picked up $36,000 for Davis for his effort in the Owner Appreciation Cup to push his career earnings to $319,750.

Earlier this meet, Mocito Rojo won the $75,000 Delta Mile and last June he captured the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs.