Post gives Mr. Excellent options

Post could be the deciding factor Friday night when front-runners Mr. Excellent and Blazing Exploit start as the top two choices in the $40,000 Delta Beau for 2-year-olds at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

Mr. Excellent will break from post 6, two spots outside of Blazing Exploit. The draw could give Mr. Excellent's rider, Carlos Gonzalez, options, and that's a good thing for the colt, who is attempting to win his second straight stakes and his fourth race in five career starts.

Mr. Excellent, who will be moving into open company for the first time, wired the field at five furlongs last out in the $50,000 Calcasieu at Delta on Nov. 13. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 75, the highest last-race number of all starters in the Delta Beau.

Trainer Doris Hebert co-owns Mr. Excellent with Brittlyn Stable.

Blazing Exploit, whose path home might be a little shorter from post 4, has won his last two starts by seven lengths, going wire to wire in both. He will be making his stakes debut in the Delta Beau after winning a conditioned allowance at Mountaineer by six lengths Oct. 9.

Blazing Exploit, trained by Tom Amoss, ships in from Fair Grounds and will be ridden by leading jockey Guy Smith.