Prairie Meadows: Gentlemen's Bet outruns Delaunay in Iowa Sprint

Travel problems prevented jockey Robby Albarado from making it to Prairie Meadows in time to ride lightly raced 4-year-old Gentlemen’s Bet in Friday night's $125,000 Iowa Sprint. Albarado’s absence gave David Mello the opportunity to pick up the mount. Mello made the most of his chance by guiding Gentlemen’s Bet to victory over 1-5 favorite Delaunay.

Delaunay, who had won six straight races dating back to last September, including the Grade 2 Churchill Downs last time out, bumped rival Credit Report coming out of the gate and was last at the start in the field of five. But jockey Rosie Napravnik had Delaunay in position to win turning for home. Delaunay and Gentlemen’s Bet ($5.80) raced together through midstretch, and Delaunay's head was in front with a furlong remaining. But in the final 70 yards, Gentlemen’s Bet spurted clear. He finished 1 3/4 lengths in front while completing six furlongs in 1:09.51. Locally based Credit Report finished third.

“I was told to ride with confidence,” said Mello, referring to trainer Ron Moquett, who won two of the three six-figure stakes on the program. “The horse ran a good race.”

It was the first stakes victory for Gentlemen’s Bet, who is now 5 for 6 lifetime. His only loss came when he was third in the Grade 3 Count Fleet in April at Oaklawn Park. Gentlemen’s Bet is a son of Half Ours owned by Harry Rosenblum.