George and Lori Hall’s 2-year-old colt My Adonis delivered a winning performance in the $200,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes in Vinton (VIDEO), Louisiana on the night of Oct. 22, setting himself up for an appearance in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III).
Saddled by Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winning trainer Kelly Breen, odds-on choice My Adonis pressed the early pace set by Top Cat Boogie and Flashy Kid before taking command turning for home in the one-mile event.
My Adonis, leading by one length over Tiz Moe, appeared to be headed for a stretch battle. But My Adonis drew clear in the final furlong under jockey Elvis Trujillo and won by a commanding 5 1/4 lengths. Tiz Moe stayed on for second by three lengths while Flashy Kid wound up third.
My Adonis, a son of Pleasantly Perfect out of the Elusive Quality mare Silent Justice, covered the distance over a fast track in 1:40.56.
Bred in Kentucky by K & G Stables, My Adonis has now won two of five starts and finished second three times. The winner’s share of $120,000 raised the bay colt's career bankroll to $171,000.
Breen will now point My Adonis to the 1 1/16-mile Jackpot on Nov. 19. The winner takes home $600,000 and that would be plenty of graded earnings to get him into the 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Breen’s previous Jackpot starters were West Side Bernie, who finished second to Big Drama in 2008, and Sweet Ducky, who wound up fourth behind Gourmet Dinner last year.
Sent off at odds of 3-5, My Adonis returned $3.20, $2.40, $2.20. Second choice Tiz Moe, ridden by Jamie Theriot, paid $3.40 and $2.60. Flashy Kid, off at 51-1, was worth $6 to show with Kerwin Clark aboard.
Prince Kaden was fourth, followed by Private Prayer, Validfromthegitgo, Top Cat Boogie, and E Valentino.
In the $150,000 My Trusty Cat for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, 9-5 choice Citizen Advocate was ridden to victory by jockey Luis Jurado. The My Trusty Cat is the major local prep for the $500,000 Delta Downs Princess (gr. III), which also takes place on Nov. 19.
Citizen Advocate ($5.60) set the pace and held on by one length over Devious Intent. Ithinkisawapudycat finished another five lengths back in third. The winner covered the distance in 1:26.94.
Citizen Advocate is a 2-year-old filly by Proud Citizen, out of the Horse Chestnut mare Twilight Service. She was bred in Florida by Peter Vegso Racing Stable. The chestnut runner is owned by White Hall Lane Farm and is trained by David Vivian.
The win by Citizen Advocate was the fourth of her six-race career. She earned $90,000 for her effort on Saturday, which raised her lifetime bankroll up to $247,900.