Ninth Street gets first stakes win in Jean Lafitte

Ninth Street became a stakes winner Saturday night when he rolled home by six lengths over Shotsoft in the $50,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs. The race was one of two stakes on the card. Sir Genghis was a half-length winner of the $100,000 Gold Cup.

The Jean Lafitte was a seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds run around two turns.

Ninth Street ($17.20) was content to sit off the pace as favorite Pickett and Drew’s Shot dueled through fractions of 23.02 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.49 for the half-mile. Ninth Street overtook his rivals on the final turn and opened up through the stretch. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:27.86.

Diego Saenz was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Ninth Street is a son of Street Boss who races for his breeder, H V Farms Ltd. He won a maiden special weight at a mile at Remington Park in his start preceding the Jean Lafitte.

In the stretch run of Saturday night’s race, Dixieland Grand fell and threw rider Alexander Castillo. Castillo escaped serious injury, but Dixieland Grand had to be euthanized, according to an official with Delta.

Sir Genghis ($7) was always prominent in the Gold Cup, for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana. He covered the mile in 1:39.43. Tommy Pompell was aboard for Gillian and Kirk Harris. Kirk Harris also trains Sir Genghis, a son of Tale of the Cat. Mageez finished second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher and favorite Underpressure.