(Chart, Equibase)
Flying Zee Stable's Salty Romance was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in Friday's $250,000 Boyd Gaming's Delta Princess Stakes at Delta Downs and did not disappoint, leading from start to finish for an 5/14-length victory in the mile test for 2-year-old fillies.A daughter of Salt Lake -- Checkerspot (by Affirmed) ridden by Mike Smith, Salty Romance set fractions of :22 3/5, :46 3/5, and 1:11 3/5 en route to a final time of 1:39 over a fast track at the Vinton, Louisiana oval. Questionable Past, the winner of four of five previous starts, chased the winner through the stretch but could not make up ground, finishing second.The winner, trained by Patrick Biancone, paid $4.20, $4.00, and $3.40. The runner-up returned $8.00 and $5.00 and Turn to Lass finished third, paying $3.80.The top three were followed by Cryptos' Best, Rose Hunter, Wacky Patty, Family Favorite, Star's Kandi Kane, Silver Crown, and In Rome.Bred in Kentucky by Dr. and Mrs. Stuart E. Brown II and Mrs. Abbie S. Wood, Salty Romance was purchased for $320,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March sale of 2-year-olds in training.Third in her career debut at Santa Anita, Salty Romance broke her maiden with a 4 1/2-length romp at Hollywood Park on Nov. 15 previous to her Delta Downs triumph.
