Dancin With Angels goes long

The $100,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Saturday at Delta Downs is something of a family tradition for trainer Brett Brinkman, who will saddle top contender Dancin With Angels.

Dancin With Angels has won both of his starts and will be making his two-turn debut in the one-mile race for 2-yearolds. He faces nine others, including Keeneland maiden winner Kaely’s Brother from the barn of trainer Brad Cox, and Down Cold, a maiden winner last out at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen. Another leading contender is Simply Wicked, who was second in the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile in September at Canterbury.

Brinkman won last year’s

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Jean Lafitte with Jack the Umpire. Many years ago, his grandfather A.B. Dugas saddled a Jean Lafitte winner at Delta.

“It was five furlongs when my grandfather won the race,” Brinkman said. “It was back when I was a young kid. He trained horses until he was in his 70s.

“They’ve changed the timing and the distance of this race, but it’s still the Jean Lafitte.”

Dancin With Angels made his career debut Aug. 19 at Evangeline Downs and won the maiden special weight sprint by two lengths. He was flattered when both the runner-up and third-place finisher came back to win in their next start.

One race later, Dancin With Angels won an entry-level allowance over five furlongs by 9 3/4 lengths on Oct. 29 at Delta. Brinkman was hoping to get a two-turn 6 1/2-furlong race at Delta for Dancin With Angels prior to the Jean Lafitte.

Both wins have come under Ty Kennedy, who has the mount from post 9 on Saturday.

“I wish I could have had his second effort be six and a half – it would have given me a lot more feel for how far he wants to go,” Brinkman said. “He’s got a lot of pluses. He’s a really easy going, easy moving horse. He seems to have a good cruising speed.

“Ty let him gallop out really strong into the backside last out. I know it’s no indication how far the horse wants to go, but I was very happy watching him gallop out. The horse carried himself on out pretty strong.

“It’s a huge plus he’s got an out over the racetrack and showed his affinity for it.”

Dancin With Angels is a son of Songandaprayer who races for Pegasus Stud.

“He’s a good-made horse that carries himself that way on the racetrack,” Brinkman said. “He carries himself with a lot of poise, moves with a lot of athletic ability. It may be his key to getting two turns on this surface.”