Stephen's Answer, Underpressure collide in Owner Appreciation Cup

Stephen’s Answer and Underpressure, who won the richest offerings for their divisions this meet at Delta Downs, will meet for the first time Saturday night in the $70,000 Owner Appreciation Cup at Delta Downs.

The one-mile race for 4-year-olds and up shares a card with the $70,000 Big Drama for 3-year-olds. The Big Drama is at seven furlongs, a two-turn race on the local six-furlong track. Both stakes are restricted to horses who have started in an overnight race at Delta since the meet opened Oct. 7. The season closes Saturday.

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Stephen’s Answer won the $100,000 Delta Downs Mile in November, and Underpressure captured the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship in his last start Feb. 8. The horses are part of a competitive field of nine that also includes Pound for Pound, winner of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic in December at Fair Grounds.

“That’s a salty race,” said Robertino Diodoro, who trains Stephen’s Answer.

Stephen’s Answer is unbeaten at Delta, having compiled a 4-for-4 record there, all at this meet, for Empire Racing Stables. He launched his streak in a first-level allowance Oct. 10, added an optional $20,000 claiming race Oct. 25, the Delta Mile on Nov. 16, and an optional $15,000 claiming race in his last start Dec. 20. The victories have come since he was claimed for $7,500 in August at Canterbury Park.

“He’s just really taken a liking to the bullring,” Diodoro said. “We got lucky. I talked to Empire about claiming him. I had had the horse before. I thought he might be a good fit for Delta, his speed on a bullring.”

Stephen’s Answer enters Saturday’s race off a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“For whatever reason, the horse has gotten better,” Diodoro said. “Maybe confidence.”

Quincy Hamilton, the regular rider of Stephen’s Answer, has the mount from post 5.

Gerard Melancon has the mount on Underpressure, from post 6. Melancon was aboard the horse for a local allowance win in November and last out, when he closed with a flourish to win the Championship by a half-length over Pound for Pound, earning a Beyer of 90.

“He just ran a tremendous race,” said Chris Richard, who trains Underpressure for Mallory Greiner. “I thought going into the race he was training as good as he ever had. Gerard rode him perfectly. He had a really good trip against some really nice horses.”

Freedomfi, who is a half-brother to Underpressure, goes in the Big Drama. He is coming off a runner-up finish to the undefeated No Parole in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince on Feb. 8 at Delta. Richard trains Freedomfi for Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who is the breeder of Underpressure. Melancon has the mount from post 2.

Dr. Forman enters the Big Drama off a Feb. 14 allowance win at Delta. It came one start after he ran second in a Sam Houston allowance won by Sir Rick, who went on to win the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.

Jack the Umpire won the $100,000 Jean Lafitte on Nov. 23 at Delta.