DEL Oaks – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Filly 3 Year Olds.

1st Be Yourself Mb Stables Van Dyke D

There is a real rivalry developing between this filly and Beach Towel as once again they went to war, this time for the win. Traveling off the speed, which was fairly slow early on, I was thinking the leaders would kick and beat the closers, but this filly picked up nicely and ran them down in the very last strides. After her great effort in the BC, she went off the boil just a little and it has taken a while for her to fulfill the promise of that big effort but a promising seventh in the KYO and then a good win in the Summertime Oaks set her up for today and she was ready for the challenge. Her record is beginning to look really good and though she has been flying just a little under the radar since the BC she looks now to have established herself among the top fillies of her generation.

2nd Beach Towel Winning Link Stables Maldonado E

The track stayed dry so we saw the best of this filly after her awful run in the KYO and though she got beat today the nod could have gone either way. She was wide the whole trip which may have been the difference, but the slow pace meant that she was in a good position to catch the leader, but the outside finished just the stronger in the rush to the line. The battle between this top three I am sure will be repeated at least once before the end of the season and it will be intriguing to see who gains the upper hand next time.

3rd License To Kill Fractious Elliott S

Going to the front she was allowed to dictate a fairly below average pace and I thought that would be the winning of the race. She may have kicked just a little early which meant her stamina gave out a half a furlong too soon, but I have seen plenty do the same and hold on, so it was certainly a bold attempt to steal the race which nearly paid off. I think ultimately at this stage she may be most effective over the seven furlongs, but she was only a long neck back at the line so she could be growing into this trip.

4th Skydancer Riggins Racing Rodriguez Jam

The surprise odds monkey favorite for the race, she ran very well but could not reach the first three. I have a feeling going on her races thus far that she may now need nine furlongs plus to really fulfill her potential and at lesser trips she needs a stronger pace to fully utilize her stamina.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES