DEL Oaks – Grade III
DEL Race #1 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Skydancer Riggins Racing Rodriguez Jam 122 —

A five-race winning filly I have the feeling there is more to come from her after an impressive win in the Allaire Distaff last time. Previously she had been building nicely but had failed to break through in black-type racing and while her closing style may be the reason she took a while to win one, she seems to have found a good place at the moment and may represent a value bet.

2 Royal Alliance TwinTowersRacing Lezcano J 122 —

The winner of just one race she has been tested since her maiden win at the end of last year and is yet to set the house on fire. I liked her close second in a CD one win allowance the race before last and she was a fair third last time. She faces the dilemma of the closers in that she is one-paced if set up closer to the early pace and runs on too late if allowed to go back so I am not sure what will suit her best today. A place chance at best but she does have a good draw and a trainer that likes to punch above his weight.

3 License To Kill Fractious Elliott S 122 —

A promising juvenile she was bought by the owner for $75.000 at the end of last year and has more than paid back that investment. She took the Beaumont over seven furlongs with a strong effort so it was only natural to step her up in trip again last time out. That run was in the Black Eyed Susan where she ran right up on the speed before flattening out a little down the stretch and the jury is still out as to whether she can see out a strong 9 furlongs or may be better over the seven furlongs. Today is the acid test and I think if she gets a bit of cover early on she may have the class to see this trip out and go very close to winning.

4 Beach Towel Winning Link Stables Maldonado E 122 —

This filly was going along nicely with consistent efforts against good opposition including a game win in the GP Oaks before taking on the KYO but it all came unstuck in the big one as she trailed in an inexplicable last of the fourteen. I guess the only explanation having said it was inexplicable would be the off track at CD so that is worth keeping in mind come race day. On her game GP Oaks win she certainly has a great chance but hold all bets if the rains come.

5 Be Yourself Mb Stables Van Dyke D 122 —

Finished alongside Beach Towel in the Davona Dale so you would have to like this one with the bonus that she goes OK on an off-track. Seventh in the KYO she came back in her last start for a good win in the Summertime Oaks over this trip ending a run of solid finishes in a good fillies race without threatening the win. The usual form combinations such as her beating Your Next in the Marthas Wish but losing to her in the Demoiselle make it hard to separate this small field but she is certainly going to be tough to beat.

6 Your Next TwinTowersRacing Alvarado J 122 —

She was a much better two-year-old than she has been a three-year-old but I think it is possible to put that down to her running style. I have said many times before that closers either rush home from behind but are one-paced when in stalk or weaken from the lead so options with them can be limited to hoping that traffic doesn’t get in the way of their late run. That sort of reliance can make them a little inconsistent and their form can look up and down so it is hard to pick them as a reliable choice. She certainly can win but this wide draw may see her taken back and ridden for luck.

SUMMARY

Be Yourself and License To Kill from the Big Two will certainly have plenty of supporters but I have always liked Beach Towel and as long as the track stays dry would be happy to back her to beat the other two.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES