DEL Handicap (Grade 3)- $400.000 Purse
DEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
September 28, 2025

Last month at ELP, Mightiness won the $200.000 Groupie Doll and would make her graded debut in the DEL Handicap. She also needed to carry one more pound than the rest of the field, but none of that would prove to matter as she got up in time to get the big win! She was our second choice, and the one that she edged out was our pick to win, though no one’s getting rich with that $12.30 exacta. The winning trainer was Team 7 Illusions, and this has been a very good race for him, as it is his fifth such win. Of course, he’d love to have the $1,000.000 purse that the race had with two of his previous wins, or at least the $750.000 purse that it had with his other two wins. G Corrales is the winning jockey, his first such win in the race. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:48.13. It’s the first time that the race has been run at this distance, so we cannot fairly compare it to anything. Here’s a look at it:

(½ Mile- :47.42)- Red High Heels marches out to the lead for TwinTowersRacing, and is ahead by a full three lengths into the backstretch. Running evenly for second are Erupt In War (Team 7 Illusions) and Libertie (Mo Mentum Farm). Right behind them is where we have our eventual winner from Team 7 Illusions, Mightiness, with Lab Virus (Saratoga Stud). It’s another 3-4 lengths to Chilukki (Pan Farms).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.54)- Red High Heels struts her stuff in front of the field, looking good while holding a three-length advantage. It begins to get interesting behind her, thanks to Libertie already beginning to throw in the towel. Erupt In War was still in the second spot, and would now see a new one beside her, as Lab Virus begin to make a bit of push, and Mightiness would start to follow suit, looking to make it three wide for second. At the back, we haven’t seen anything out of Chilukki yet.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Red High Heels is still the leader, but as they approach the exit of the turn, we begin to see the others cutting into the lead. Lab Virus was by herself in second now, and just two and a half lengths from the leader, with plenty of time to make it happen. Mightiness was still right behind her, looking to make a run of her own, and we can’t rule out Erupt In War just yet. Libertie was losing ground, and Chilukki was still at the back.

(Finish- 1:48.13)- With a furlong to go, both Lab Virus and Mightiness were in their best stride as Red High Heels was trying to hang on. Getting closer to the wire, these three were running together, but there would just be a little bit more power in the closing stride of Mightiness which would not only see her by Red High Heels, but to also prevail in a photo with Lab Virus to get the win. Lab Virus is second, and Red High Heels completes the trifecta. Two lengths behind them, we have fourth place Erupt In War, followed by Chilukki and Libertie.

About The Winner- Mightiness, trained by Team 7 Illusions, and ridden to victory by G Corrales, is a five-year-old mare by Breath Of The Wild and is out of the late Tightness. She was bred in New York as a second quarter two-year-old by Smokey Stover and was acquired by Team 7 Illusions in the December 2024 auction for $20.010. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 13 starts, her second stake win and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $456.190.

Track: Fast
Time: :47²  1:11²  1:35³  1:48

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 6 Paid 12.30
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 6 – 2 Paid 16.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES