Optimistic victory for Treasure Beach in Cajun country

One day after notching two route winners, Treasure Beach added a third yesterday when Optimistic scored a convincing wire-to-wire victory in a one-mile race over a sloppy race track at Delta Downs.

Optimistic hadn’t been able to break his maiden while racing in Florida, but he took care of that detail in his first try in Cajun country. With Tim Thornton aboard, the 4-year-old gelding bred by Leverett and Linda Miller and Adam and Suzette Parker rocketed to the lead from the No. 10 post and by the time he reached the half in :47.86, had stretched his margin to five lengths. The closest anybody got was when Florida-bred Gaspergou came within two non-threatening lengths on the final turn. The final margin was 2 1/4.

Optimistic paid $4.80 as favorite and earned a check for $6,000, while getting Treasure Beach his seventh winner of 2021.