SAINT GABRIEL PROVES BEST IN THE $100,000 BOYD REWARDS STAKES AT DELTA DOWNS

- BRETT BRINKMAN TRAINEES FINISH FIRST AND SECOND UNDER THE WIRE –

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted a special nine-race daytime program on Monday that included the $100,000 Boyd Rewards Stakes. The 7 ½-furlong event was for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds and up who had never won a sweepstakes, and it was Menard Thoroughbreds, LLC’s Saint Gabriel who came away with the win under jockey Vicente Del-Cid. The winner is trained by Brett Brinkman, who also saddled the runner-up, Jeffrow.

Breaking from the inside post position in a field of eight, Saint Gabriel started alertly and was pressured from the outside by Otra Cosa and Causeway Benny. The trio racing around the first of two turns side-by-side before Saint Gabreil gained a narrow lead onto the backstretch. The opening quarter mile time was 23.27 seconds.

Saint Gabriel maintained the lead racing to the far turn, but pressure was being turned up by Causeway Benny and eventually Doctored Deal, who made a run at the pacesetter after the half-mile time was clicked off in 47.92 seconds. As the field turned for home Del-Cid asked his mount to pick it up and he did just that, recording a ¾ mile time of 1:12.92 on his way to a four-length victory over stablemate Jeffrow, who rallied from last. Chad’s Flashy Ways finished third, another 1-1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.

The final time for Saint Gabriel over a wet-fast racetrack was 1:32.55.

The win by Saint Gabriel was the sixth of his 21-race career. He earned $60,000 for the effort and now owns a bankroll of $294,010.

Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Saint Gabriel is a 4-year-old bey gelding by Daaher, out of the Arch mare La Belle Bear.

Sent to the gate at odds of 4-5, Saint Gabriel paid $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Jeffrow was worth $9.20 to place and $4.60 to show. Chad Flashy Ways returned $3.80 to show.