07/04/2018..DELTA DOWNS..VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted a special 11-race program on Wednesday with the main event featuring a strong field of 2-year-olds competing in the $363,675 Firecracker Futurity (G2). Appropriately enough, the main event on Independence Day card was won by a horse named Patriot Games, who was ridden to victory by John Hamilton.
Owned by Ramiro Jaime Flores, Sr. and trained by Eduardo Morales, Patriotic Games settled an old score with Fm Im a Zatanaz Too, who defeated him by a neck in the Sam Houston Futurity (G2) earlier in the year. This time the tables were turned as Patriotic Games battled with Fm Im a Zatanaz Too before beating him by a head in the 350-yard test. Throw Th Dice finished another half-length behind the top pair in third.
Patriotic Games covered the distance over a fast track in 17.474 seconds, which earned him a speed index of 95.
The winner’s prize in the Firecracker Futurity this year was $181,338 and it raised Patriotic Games’ bankroll to $298,910. He has now won three of six career starts and finished second three times as well.
Bred in Texas by Bob and/or Jerry Gaston, Patriotic Games is a 2-year-old colt by First Down Dash out of the Game Patriot mare Miss Game Tee. He was purchased at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale in 2017 for $38,000.
Sent to the gate as the second choice of the betting public, Patriotic Games paid $6.20 to win, $3 to place and $2.80 to show. Fm Im a Zatanaz Too returned $2.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Throw Th Dice was worth $10.40 to show.
In addition to his score with Patriotic Games, Hamilton rode three more winners on the program Wednesday night. The five-time Delta Downs leading rider is battling with Luis Vivanco for the top spot this year and with three days to go in the season Hamilton is now within one win of his rival at 40 wins to 39.
Delta Downs will continue its final week of American Quarter Horse racing on Thursday night with a 12-race program that features the $20,000 Par-A-Dice Stakes for 3-year-olds and up competing at 300 yards. There will be a special post time of 5:45 pm for the final three nights of the season, which wraps up on Saturday.
For more information about the season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
