Team Bird Takes Aim at the Delta Downs Stakes Program

Ray Cottrell Sr., Kenny McPeek and Larry Green have set their sights on taking down some of the major stakes at Delta Downs this fall.

Stable star and comeback kid, Birdbirdistheword has been nominated for the Sam's Town on the Delta Jackpot under card on December 7. A good effort in the Sam's Town would set Birdbird up nicely for his four-year old campaign in the handicap division, that campaign would most likely commence at Gulfstream Park.

Meanwhile two of Team Bird's promising two-year olds, Sgt. Major Command and First Lady Glenna (named for Kentucky's First Lady) are being targeted for two-year old stakes at Delta Downs.

Sgt. Major Command's next start will be on November 9 in the one mile Jean Lafitte which is the local prep for the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot. Birdbird won the Delta Jackpot (G3) last year. A win or second place finish in the Jackpot leaves you in good shape in graded earnings needed to get into the gate at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

Nominees for the Jean Lafitte include recent Churchill Downs allowance winner Betatron, local hero Big Al's Mandraar who has won two of his four starts by more than 10 lengths, Birdonawire winner Carson's Legacy, undefeated Texas-bred Ferdinard's Flyer, Mikimoto's Mojo who won the Lafayette Stakes at Evangeline and Kentucky Cup Juvenile winner Texas Fever.


First Lady Glenna who was a solid second in her first start at Keeneland on October 17 is nominated to the My Trusty Cat along with solid contenders like Syriana's Song who broke her maiden at Saratoga and then finished sixth in the Matron (G2) at Belmont Park, local heroine Miss Missle a winner of four of her eight starts and Arlington Washington Lassie (G3) victor Dreaming of Liz, stablemate of champion Dreaming of Anna.





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Birdbird To Breeze

Update: Birdbird breezed three furlongs in a snappy 37 1/5 Saturday at Keeneland as he prepares to resume his racing career later in the year.

Tentative plans call for Birdbird to return to the races at Delta Downs on December 7 in the $75,000 Sam's Town at seven furlongs. The Sam's Town is being run the same night as the Delta Jackpot which Birdbird won last year.

Birdbird's stablemate, Sgt. Major Command won the first at Keeneland yesterday, a maiden $50,000 claimer drawing off by five lengths and in doing so validated the confidence his connections have in him. The colt ran greenly in his first start at Kentucky Downs and while his next race is undecided, Team Bird is eyeing the Delta Jackpot for Sgt. Major Command.