DEL Oaks (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
DEL- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
July 4, 2020

When the field for the 15th running of the DEL Oaks had initially drew, it looked like we might have an exciting rematch between two of the top runners in the KYO. However, Precise Performance did not stay nominated here for long after the field was revealed, leaving us with just seeing Tell It Like It Is take on a field of promising challengers. This will make her the favorite in this race, but do not necessarily pencil her in just yet. Recently we have seen the likes of Notarized Kate and Queenwood win the DEL Oaks, and last year it was Cardi B. Haven’t heard that name as much lately in more ways then one, but the equine version was the subject of a $400.000 private sale about ten days ago, so maybe we will hear more from her. Now, for those who will be performing here, in 2020.

#1- Tell It Like It Is (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J K Court)- Starting on the rail, this filly continues to turn in consistent finishes, placing first or second in seven of her last eight races. That includes her last two starts, where she was the runner up in two very prestigious events: the KYO and the Acorn. Her running style was different in each, as she was at the front in the Oaks early on before choosing a closing style in the Acorn. As each ended up with a second place showing, it is impossible to predict what the trainer is opting for here. She is the only horse here that ran in either of those races, and that makes her the one to beat in the DEL Oaks. However, she must be on top form, because there are excellent rivals here, one of which is a stablemate.

#2- Honey Snake (Estero Farms, ridden by D Davis)- The trainer won this race two years ago with Sports Creek, and will be looking to this Slither filly to get his second such win. Though, he would simply like it if Honey Snake could pick her second win, in general. After breaking her maiden, she was placed directly in stakes, and it did not go well at first. However, she is coming off a second place run in the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan at PIM, a nice finish to have on your resume. Can she build on that? If she can, then she can slither her way to win here.

#3- Antiquated Story (Nakamura Stables, ridden by G Franco)- The biggest challenger to Tell It Like It Is in this field could be running in the same silks. Like Honey Snake, she was also placed into stakes right after her maiden, but has been able to get two wins after that. Most recently, she won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at SA, coming in late May. All that looks good, but there is a big red flag on her, and that is consistency. Since breaking her maiden, she has rotated good results, if not wins, with complete duds. And right now that pattern says it’s time for a dud. The trainer will be hoping to make that pattern an antiquated story.

#4- Poetic Charm (Winning Link Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Picked up in the March auction for $55.010 on a hope for her potential to do bigger things. She stepped up in her debut, winning an allowance in the mud, and that sent her to the same Summertime Oaks that Antiquated Story won. While her rival beat them all, Poetic Charm beat none of them. Everyone should get a second chance, and the trainer has had time to figure out went wrong, so that it can be corrected.

#5- Keymadge (Oquinn Farm, ridden by L Contreras)- After winning an allowance in her fourth start, the trainer set sights on bigger things, and entered her in the $500.000 WO Oaks last month. In it, Keymadge never seemed to show up. She ran at the back early, and pretty much did nothing thereafter. Now, like Poetic Charm, it is time for a second chance, and the trainer can figure it out, then she can’t be ruled out from getting a priece heere.

#6- Precise Performance- Scratched

#7- Ms Pea- Scratched

Prediction: 1-2-3-5

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES