BY BROCK SHERIDAN
In his first race since being claimed by owner and trainer Mark Hibdon, Paynted Blue makes his initial start against black-type company Friday at Delta Downs in the $75,000 Colts and Geldings Appreciation overnight stakes. The Florida-bred gelding lines up against eight other colts and geldings, 4-years-old and older, in the seven-furlong contest. A victory by Paynted Blue would earn a $4,000 FTBOA Export Incentive check for breeder Dr. Ross Russell of Citra, Fla.
Paynted Blue is cross-entered in the $20,000 Grasmick Stakes, a four-furlong test for 3-year-olds and older at Fonner Park on Saturday.
Hibdon claimed Paynted Blue for $15,000 out of a second-place finish going six-and-a-half furlongs against non-winners of three optional claimers at Delta Downs on Jan. 10, the second time in three races the 6-year-old son of Paynter had changed hands through the claim box. He was also claimed for $15,000 at Delta Downs on Nov. 22 in a five-furlong race in which he finished second. Between those two efforts, Paynted Blue won a first condition allowance race by a neck going five furlongs over a sealed muddy track at Delta Downs on Dec. 17.
Paynted Blue sports a career record of four wins, seven seconds, and two thirds in 23 career starts while earning $93,640.
Bright Outlook and Bourbon Heist are set to face each other again after finished first and third respectively last out in an upper tier, $25,000 optional claiming going seven-and-a-half furlongs at Delta Downs on Dec. 10.
Trained by Benard Chatters for P T Thoroughbreds LLC, Brite Outlook won three of nine starts last year, including two straight allowance races in January and February. The 6-year-old son of Anchor Down makes his first start in a stakes since finishing sixth in the $60,000 John Henry going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Evangeline Downs turf in July. He was also out of the money in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile over wet fast track in April.
Brite Outlook has won six with five seconds and six thirds in 28 career starts and sports career earnings of $192,360.
He is the 5-2 morning line favorite, and Julio Ramirez Jr. will be aboard from post seven.
Bourbon Heist won two of six starts last year including a two-and-a-half-length score in a $20,000 claiming going a mile at Delta Downs on Nov. 21.
Trained by Allen Landry for JD Thoroughbreds, Joey Davis and Keith and Larry J. Romero, Bourbon Heist has won six with nine seconds and six thirds in 37 career starts with earnings of $559,496.
Jansen Melancon takes the call on Bourbon Heist from post eight and they are listed at 6-1 in the program.
Also entered are Chad’s Flashy Ways with jockey Juan Vargas, Saint Gabriel has Thomas Pompell named to ride, Timothy Thornton has the call on Sweet Fantasy, A Million Moons will have Jose Florian in the saddle, Elio Barrera will be up on Two Dollars and Joel Dominguez has the assignment on Mr McGregor.
Return to the February 19 issue of Wire to Wire
