Hard-Knocking Vets Square Off in $250,000 Delta Mile

Code West (5/2) is the morning line favorite and enters the race in sharp form trainer Boyd Caster despite dropping his last two races and five or his last six.  The son of Lemon Drop Kid faced better in his last start, running fourth at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Fayette and closing ground in the stretch after a wide trip.  Like each of his last three starts, the Fayette was run at a mile and an eighth and Code West seems to be a horse best-suited for a mile or a mile and a sixteenth, making the turn-back in distance a positive move. 

Grand Contender returns for Amoss 

Grand Contender (7/2) has not raced since July 26 for trainer Tom Amoss, but has been working well at Fair Grounds for his return.  The six year-old gelded son of Strong Contender is two for two in his career at Delta Downs and should be close to the early speed in a race without much zip outside of 20/1 longshot sprinter Mighty Brown.  It will be interesting to see how the pace scenario develops between these two horses. 

Tough to go against Sunbeam 

Sunbeam (3/1) is a win machine (11/18 lifetime, 3/3 at Delta Downs), and enters the race in good form after returning from a two and a half month layoff to win the Gold Cup at Delta Downs Nov 1.  Trainer Ron Faucheux connects at a 29% clip with runners making their second start off a layoff of 45-180 days.