BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Making his first start against stakes company in more than two years, Old Homestead returned with a vengeance in winning the $75,000 Sam’s Town at Delta Downs Friday night. The 6-year-old Florida-bred went wire-to-wire in taking the five-furlong contest against five other 3-year-olds and older. It was his first start in a black-type event since finishing off the board in the $250,000 Rita Hilton Memorial at Charles Town Races in August of 2022.
Ridden from post three by Vicente Del-Cid, Old Homestead was a half-length in front of 17-1 longshot Empire of Gold through a half-mile in :22.52 on the fast track then continued to stretch his lead throughout before winning by a length-and-three-quarters as the 4-5 favorite. Empire of Gold held on for second, a length-and-a-half ahead of Hap Hot in third. Lagoon, Autumns Strong Man and General Shipman completed the order of finish. Florida-bred Tape to Tape was scratched.
Trained by Brett Brinkman for Marablue Farm LLC and Pegasus Stud LLC, Old Homestead paid $3.60 to win while completing the distance in :57.70.
Old Homestead won four of his first five starts in 2022 including the $342,000 Lafayette at Keeneland and the $99,000 Concern at Laurel Park. He was also second to Conagher in the $101,000 Housebuster at Colonial Downs before finishing the year in the Hilton. He had two starts in 2023, including a second to Hesmyhoneybadger in an $80,000 optional claiming at Fair Grounds and a fifth-place finish in an allowance race at Louisiana Downs on turf.
He then had 17 months off before returning to finish fourth in a five-furlong allowance race won by Tape to Tape in October of last year at Delta Downs then won a Delta Downs allowance in his last start on Dec. 11.
Old Homestead has now won half of his 12 career starts with two seconds while earning $382,920. He is by Overanalyze out of Pearl de Vere, by Songandaprayer and was bred in Florida by his owners. He is the only stakes-winner for Pearl de Vere, who has two winners from two starters and five foals. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Opaque, by Practical Joke and an unnamed yearling filly by McKinzie. She was bred to Gunite in 2025.
