Photo Courtesy: Coady Photography
HOT SPRINGS, AR – Mallard’s Bro followed in the footsteps of his older half-brother, The Mallard Man, with his victory in Friday’s $75,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes. The Mallard Man, who had won the inaugural running of the race in 2011 and was second in 2012, finished sixth. Both geldings are out of the Bucksplasher mare Y Worry B Happy and were bred by their owners Five Star Racing Stable.
With leading rider Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons, Mallard’s Bro was the last out of the gate and continued to race near the rear of the 10-horse field as Road to Saleeta sped through fractions of :22 2/5 and :48 2/5 for the first half mile. The winner had to weave his way through traffic entering the stretch, but once clear he was full of run to catch the 2012 and ’13 winner Devil and a Half by a neck at the wire. Presidental Colors also made a late rally for third in a photo with the runner-up. Mallard’s Bro completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:46 3/5 over a sloppy track.
“He probably needed his last race (when third as the favorite Feb. 27),” said winning trainer Al Cates. “He came through today. Ricardo gave him an excellent ride. This was a good win for the Arkansas program. We have a lot of nice Arkansas horses.”
Mallard’s Bro, by It’s No Joke, improved his career record to 16-3-5-5 and has now earned $123,664. He returned $9.80, $4.80 and $3.20 at odds of 7-2.
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Delta Flower Makes Quick ROI for Owners
HOT SPRINGS, AR – Delta Flower, who was purchased privately after an eye-catching maiden win March 8 against open company, made her owners a quick return on their investment with her equally impressive win against Arkansas-breds in Saturday’s $75,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes before an on-track crowd of 21,107.
Delta Flower, with jockey Terry Thompson on board, was second at the break, but it didn’t take long for her to gain control and she battled head and head with Pretty Suspect through fractions of :22 1/5 and :46 2/5 for the first half mile. The winner began to shake free entering the stretch and drew clear to win by 3 ¾ lengths over Little Miss Flurry in the final time of 1:12 1/7 for six furlongs over a fast track. Pink Flash came up the rail for third.
Delta Flower, by A.P. Delta out of the unraced mare Broken Flower, was bred by Bill Morrison and her trainer Stanley Roberts. She has now won two of three starts and has earned $86,700. Her new owners Gillian Campbell, Dan Clark, Greg Skoda and Richard Robertson are still making plans her next start.
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