VINTON, LA—JUNE 27, 2015—Humberto Amaro’s Kerrys Special Crown used a powerful late effort to get up in the final strides and win the $34,500 Par-A-Dice Stakes at Delta Downs on Thursday night. Jockey Martin Rubalcava rode the Carlos Saldivar trainee in the 300-yard showdown for 3-year-olds and up seeking their first stakes win.

After breaking near the lead in a field of seven, Kerrys Special Crown dueled with The Notradamus and The Eagle Express through the first half of the race. As the finish line approached it was Kerrys Special Crown who proved best at odds of better than 16-1, winning the race by a neck over a fast closing Allizoom while Little Blue Dove also made up ground late and finished another neck back in third.

Kerrys Special Crown covered the distance over a fast track in 15.401 second. That time equaled a speed index of 89.

The victory by Kerrys Special Crown marked the fifth of his 14-race career and his third from eight starts at Delta Downs. He earned $21,000 for the score, which raised his career bankroll over the six-digit mark to $103,030.

Kerrys Special Crown is a 4-year-old gelding by Special Crown Royal, out of the Reeds Dash mare Prissy Lege. He was bred in Louisiana by Kerry Vallet.

Fans who backed Kerrys Special Crown at the windows were rewarded handsomely with payoffs of $35.80 to win, $16.60 to place and $7.40 to show. Allizoom paid $4.80 to place and $4.80 to show. Little Blue Dove was worth $4.20 to show.

Martin Trejo saddled Allizoom for owner Ana Alvidrez. David Alvarez was aboard the multiple stakes-placed daughter First Prize Dash out of the champion mare Lett Her Zoom, by Shazoom. Bred in in Louisiana by Stephen Williams she earned $7,000 to boost her earnings to $98,866.

Little Blue Dove races for owner Arnoldo Gallegos and is trained Martin Gallegos. Raul Ramirez, Jr., rode the Louisiana-bred daughter of Jess Louisiana Blue out of Hurried Connection, by Royal Quick Dash. Bred by Phil Guibeau and Randy Morein she earned $3,850.

Completing the field were The Notradamus, The Eagle Express, Jessjinging and Best On The Planet. Runaway Dove, Voncitas Game, Zihuatenejo were all scratched.

Delta Downs continues with its penultimate week of racing on Friday with another 10-race program that starts at 6:15 p.m. CT. Friday’s featured race is the $171,630 Firecracker Derby.

For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’.

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.