Delta Downs card to include $750,000 Kentucky Derby prep

Boyd Gaming, like most casino companies, is not having a good year. But you wouldn't know it by its $1.5 million sponsorship of the Delta Jackpot card at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., tonight.

Boyd owns Delta Downs and its 1,500 slot machines. A percentage of profits from the slots flow into a rich horseman's purse account. So while California racing is squeezing nickels trying to make a dollar, Delta, and the other Louisiana racetracks, has purse money to spend.

Today's feature is the $750,000 Delta Jackpot for 2-year-olds. The added incentive is it's a Kentucky Derby prep and a grade 3 event. That means the graded purse money earned counts toward securing a spot in the 2009 Derby.

The Jackpot winner's share of $450,000 easily will guarantee a Derby start. Even second-place money, $150,000, will give one a fine head start.

On the Delta undercard are the $500,000 Delta Princess for 2-year-old fillies and four other stakes. In Las Vegas, if you bet $20 on the Delta Jackpot race at Sam's Town, The Orleans or the Gold Coast, you'll receive a free Delta Jackpot T-shirt.

The Delta Jackpot field might be its best ever. Terrain, beaten by two lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is the favorite. Trainer Al Stall adds blinkers on to the son of Sky Mesa.

Steve Asmussen has two good ones entered in Trinity Magic and Retap. Trinity Magic is unbeaten in three New York-bred stakes, so he's being tested for class. Retap has run second in three stakes, Big Drama has won four races in a row at Calder, and West Side Bernie finished right behind Terrain in the Breeders' Cup.

A 10-1 long shot I'll be using is Stimulus Plan. He's run three good races at Woodbine for Mark Casse, and Woodbine shippers have run well wherever they've gone. Kent Desormeaux will ride.

* PICK 4 -- The pick 4 remains one of horse racing's best bets. It gives you a puncher's chance to bet a little money to win a lot. For example, Saturday at Hollywood, the early pick 4 winners paid $6.40, $8.60, $5.60 and $7.00. The $1 pick 4 payoff was a big overlay of $302.80. The natural parlay for $1 was $134.

* ALIANTE -- On Saturday at Aliante Station in North Las Vegas, a qualifier will take place for the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. The entry fee is $200. The top two finishers will qualify for the NHC on Jan. 23 and 24 at Red Rock.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.