Walkover at Delta Downs

There is indeed a sure thing Saturday night at Delta Downs as Hermano Pilon (Attempted Humor) cannot possibly lose the third race. The 4-year-old will have no competition.

While Fair Grounds has received most of the headlines revolving around the EHV-1 outbreak in Louisiana, the problem is also affecting another track in the state, Delta Downs. No horses there have tested positive for EHV-1, and officials at Delta want to keep it that way. Therefore, no horses are allowed in and out of the track and, for now, only horses stabled on the grounds can race. That's particularly a problem for Delta because a large percentage of its horse population is based at its sister track, Evangeline Downs and the nearby Evangeline Downs Training Center.

There are 48 early scratches on Saturday night's card, including 11 of the 12 horses entered in the third race. It is a $10,000 maiden claiming event for Louisiana breds going 6 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Bernard Chatters, Hermano Pilon last started Mar. 3, also in a state-bred $10,000 maiden claimer. He finished eighth, beaten 13 lengths. The purse of the race is $13,000.

It is believed that this will be the first walkover since a June 3, 2016 race at Penn National that was left with just one starter after it came off the turf.