Testing One Two, Americium meet in Owner Appreciation Distaff

Testing One Two will be looking to improve her Delta Downs record to 6 for 7 on Friday night when she starts in the $60,000 Owner Appreciation Distaff. The one-mile race is for fillies and mares who have run in an overnight race at the Vinton, La., track since the current meet opened Oct. 17.

Delta is scheduled to close Tuesday with a 10-race program that has a special post of 1:10 p.m. Central. It makes up for a card lost to inclement weather. Delta also has set an earlier post of 4:55 p.m. for the 12-race cards running Friday and Saturday.

The Owner Appreciation Distaff drew a field of seven, including Americium, who in her last start was second to Testing One Two in an optional $50,000 claiming race Jan. 19 at Delta.

Testing One Two last raced Feb. 9 and brought a 5-for-5 record at Delta into the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff. She sat just off the pace and rallied for second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. She will break from post 5 under regular rider Diego Saenz.

Victor Arceneaux trains Testing One Two, a 4-year-old daughter of Star Guitar, for her breeder, Brittlyn Stable.

Karl Broberg, who will win the training title at Delta, and Tim Thornton, the meet’s leading jockey, will team with Americium. She was a 10-length starter-allowance winner earlier in the meet for M and M Racing, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 91 that she earned is the best number in the Owner Appreciation Distaff.

Also on Friday night’s card, Taylor’s Spirit runs in an allowance, one start after finishing third by three-quarters of a length in the $125,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn. The fillies she finished behind, Power Gal and Marathon Queen, are set to see action Saturday at Oaklawn in the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee. Taylor’s Spirit is a multiple stakes winner. Gerard Melancon has the mount for trainer Scott Gelner.

◗ Louisiana Downs, which is currently racing Quarter Horses, has increased all overnight purses $1,200 a race, the Bossier City, La., track announced. The purse bump went into effect Saturday and will continue through the end of the season March 20. Thoroughbred racing returns to Louisiana Downs in May.