Rise Up, Great Minds classy yet eligible for Owners' Appreciation Day

The Delta Downs meet will go out on a high note Saturday night, with Grade 3 winners Rise Up and Great Minds set to do battle in the $50,000 Owners’ Appreciation Day Stakes. The one-mile race is one of two stakes on the card, and both are restricted to horses who have started in the overnight ranks at the Vinton, La., track in 2016-17.

Rise Up and Great Minds are stakes winners at Delta, but both also made appearances in overnight races. The millionaire Rise Up gained his eligibility when running second in an optional $35,000 claiming race in February 2016, while Great Minds gets in the door for overnight appearances in 2016 and this year, his latest an optional $40,000 claiming route win Jan. 7.

The $50,000 Owners’ Appreciation Day Distaff is for fillies and mares, and it too will be run at a mile. The chief contenders include Mayla, who is coming off a three-length win in an optional $35,000 claiming race Feb. 8 at Delta and earlier in her career won the $75,000 Orleans Stakes in Vinton. Diego Saenz has the mount for trainer Bret Calhoun. Believeinsomething won back-to-back optional-claiming races at this meet.

Owners’ Appreciation Day, Race 2

KEY CONTENDERS

Great Minds, by Stroll

Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-89

◗ Great Minds was a sharp winner last out at Delta, taking a 7 1/2-furlong race by two lengths. He sat about five lengths off the lead and rallied, improving his Delta record to three wins from four starts. Earlier in his career, he won the $75,000 Borgata Stakes at Delta.

“He ran great last time,” said Al Stall Jr., who trains Great Minds for Vince Wilfork. “He really runs two turns at Delta Downs [well]. He always has for some reason. I don’t know why. We got lucky to be eligible for this race.”

◗ Great Minds has had the bulk of his success coming from off the pace and could get a favorable setup behind Rise Up, King’s Share, and the rail-drawn Who Datawaki. Great Minds will break from post 6 under Roberto Morales.

“We’ll have something to run at,” Stall said. “He likes that.”

Rise Up, by Rockport Harbor

Last 3 Beyers: 65-89-97

◗ He is another with a strong Delta record. He has won three of six starts over the local strip, none of those wins bigger than the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.

◗ Gerard Melancon has the mount for Paul Van Doren and trainer Tom Amoss.