July 19, 2016

There were so many viable options in the Grade I DEL Handicap that eight of the nine entrants were rated at single digit odds but the lone outsider proved that a layoff is nothing to fear as Chili King, off since January but a multiple Grade I winner, came with a rousing inside run to nab victory from former lower level allowance winner Donna Chang. Second in a mid-level start at FG way back when, the six-year-old was coming back off a huge rest for owner Sanny Village and off only a single published workout, excelled at the ten-furlongs to earn her first triple-digit speed rating while pushing past $2,000.000 in earnings with her tenth career win and first in over a year.

There is such a long run into the first turn at DEL that none of the mares really needed to expend too much energy early on and Quiet Elegance (5.85) took her spot up front while outside of Donna Chang (6.95) and You Can Do It (5.95). Christine (5.95) raced much closer than expected going into the first turn and was actually caught four-wide as the leader moved clear with everyone else behind her lobbying for that stalking position. The first half-mile in a moderate 48.39 saw Quiet Elegance up front with Christine finally able to get into second from Donna Chang with Lullaby Maker Tf (*4.60) now wide in fourth but moving forward with momentum heading into the far turn. As the leader held sway through six-furlongs in 1:12.25, Dashboard Rahy (4.75) looked to make her move from the back with You Can Do It still wider than necessary. Quiet Elegance gave up the lead to Lullaby Maker Tf with just over two-furlongs to go as Donna Chang continued to plug along and as Christine started to retreat from her tough journey, a new shooter emerged in the form of rank outsider Chili King (44.55). Donna Chang came through with a determined thrust to wrestle the lead from the champion turning for home and the only mare who could stop her looked to be Chili King and as everyone else sputtered, those two proved their might over the Classic distance with an epic battle to the wire. Donna Chang had everything sewn up inside the 1/16^th pole and looked clear for owner Mb Stables but in the last stride, Chili King came on for the monumental upset, scoring by a nose while nearly three-lengths clear of third place finisher Lullaby Maker Tf, who just held off a last-to-fourth Unsecured (6.85). Quiet Elegance held fifth inside with Dashboard Rahy wide, while Christine and You Can Do It weakened and A Class Angie (7.30) never got involved in what was the last race of her storied career.

The 2016 Grade I DEL Handicap will probably go down as one of the greatest editions of all time and Sanny Village put forth a masterful training performance by getting Chili King ready for the biggest race of her career, and certainly one of the most satisfying. Fourth in this race last year but a winner in the Grade I Alabama at ten-furlongs, you could almost be tempted to send her to the Pacific Classic like Poolside Ec and see if she can complete that double with another resounding win.

Congratulations goes out to owner Sanny Village and their six-year-old mare Chili King, a last gasp winner of the Grade I DEL Handicap!

Prediction                  Christine / Lullaby Maker Tf / Quiet Elegance

Winner                       Chili King

                                      Six-year-old black mare

                                      Western Red Cedar-Youre All I Need (Werewolf)

Owner                         Sanny Village

Time                            48.39, 1:12.25, 1:36.35, 2:00.96

Overall

Chili King                   44.55 stalked midpack, inside run, up in time

Donna Chang            6.95 rail run, clear late, nipped in final stride

Lullaby Maker Tf       *4.60 solid middle speed, weakened in drive

Unsecured                   6.85 far back early, solid late gains

Quiet Elegance           5.85 set pace, tired

Dashboard Rahy       4.75 wide runt throughout

Christine                      5.95 pressed forward, wide around turn, tired

You Can Do It             5.95 even effort

A Class Angie             7.30 no factor

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES