Woozy delivers thrilling futurity victory for Delhomme

Quarterback Jake Delhomme of the NFL's Carolina Panthers has enjoyed many big wins on the football field, and in 2004 guided his team to the Super Bowl. This past Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, Delhomme had his biggest thrill in racing when Woozy, whom he owns, captured the $150,000 Shine Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

Delhomme has been involved in racing since he played college ball at the nearby University of Louisiana in Lafayette, La.

"Someone asked me in the racing office if I get more nervous about a race or a football game," said Delhomme, whose horses compete under the appropriately named Set Hut Stable. "I get more nervous about a race, because in a game I have control. I was as nervous as can be, because I felt I was on the cusp of something big with this race tonight."

Woozy is trained by Jake's father, Jerry, who maintains a small string at Evangeline, and was ridden by Willie Lozano Jr. Woozy was purchased at last October's Louisiana sale for the bargain price of $6,700.

Lozano was also aboard Woozy when he finished second to Shine favorite Margarita Man in a qualifying trial last month.

"I had ridden him in the trial and was very confident in his ability," Lozano said. "Even though he broke slowly, we were able to work our way into contention by the midpoint of the race. Once we found racing room in the upper stretch, he accelerated past the leaders and really had little trouble in holding off the closers."