July 8, 2015

Hidden away from the big meetings at SA, BEL or SAR, the Grade II DEL Oaks has been a staple of East Coast racing for almost 80 years and on Saturday afternoon, another edition of this crucial event for the three-year-old fillies will take place, with its standard $300.000 on the line for those who can handle the 1 1/16 mile journey. Won by standouts such as Vagrancy, Gallorette, Next Move, Gallant Bloom and Desert Vixen, it has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years with the likes of Proud Spell, Careless Jewel and Blind Luck being victorious, with each scoring the Grade I Alabama next time out. At HRP, it has been the precursor for a few decent sophomores including Higher, Shout, Bay Bound, Funky Music and General Rose and this year, we have a battle royale on our hands with the KY Oaks co-winner battling a filly who is less than a length away from being undefeated. Add into the mix a filly who was second against older over this very course last time out and you have a true test of stamina, class and course experience that could lead to one of a number of outcomes in this huge Summer stepping stone.

1-Broomsticks N Booty (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-Drabfantasy)

Broomsticks N Booty was good enough to finish second against males in the Grade II With Anticipation as a juvenile, and win the Grade I KY Oaks in a dead-heat this season, so her presence in the DEL Oaks is enough to make her a top contender, even if she was unable to win in the American Oaks or the Mother Goose in her last two starts. She, like many in here, likes to sit just off the early fractions and that might be her weakest point but with a will to win and class on her side, look for her to give another good account of herself, although probably not enough of one to win.

Analysis-Battle tested filly faces another tough group

Fair Odds-6/1

2-Pure Lisa (Three-year-old gray filly / Owner-Mb Stables)

Pure Lisa has steadily moved up for the allowance ranks over the past few months, winning with aplomb at ALB and CD and now, sets her sights on a reachable Grade III race that will allow her to stretch her legs in front running fashion. Speed ratings have been increasing and she worked very well at KEE in preparation; all factors that signify a filly on the rise for an outfit who knows how to get the best out of a stakes runner come the big day.

Analysis-Rides a big winning streak into a tougher event

Fair Odds-4/1

3-Kentucky Fried Chick (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-Nolespan Racing)

Not just anyone can go from a $5.000 purchase to a Grade III-placed runner but Kentucky Fried Chick did just that with her close second in the Obeah behind multiple stakes winner Zero Hour and in the DEL Oaks, she will hope to go one better in a return to straight three-year-old company. That 98-speed rating is the best in the field and she certainly knows how to handle the class so a victory is not out of the question at odds that should be much lower than her last three starts.

Analysis-Faces three-year-olds after handling older rivals in many starts

Fair Odds-3/1

4-Ta Wee-SCRATCHED

5-Queen Of The Desert (Three-year-old gray filly / Owner-Sanny Village)

With only a single maiden victory to her credit, and speed ratings well below the best in the field, Queen Of The Desert moves up off a private sale and tries to earn some of that back against open company. Second on the turf at SA last time out, she is probably better suited to the grass but takes a shot nonetheless and while she might be able to get out there early, staying around will be tougher for her than many of the others.

Analysis-Lacks the experience at this level to be a contender

Fair Odds-10/1

6-Sirens Blaring (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-D J C Racing Stables)

A NY-bred with five wins in seven starts, Sirens Blaring could easily have tried to hand at a race like the NY Oaks but instead, brings her dominant form to DEL off a monster score at WO and on paper, looks to be the clear favourite to stalk and pounce with authority. Purchased for a whopping $410.000, she has been excellent in six-furlong workouts at BEL and while she might not be Grade I caliber yet, this is certainly a great spot for her to improve her class and take down what should be an easy win.

Analysis-The favourite by a mile off her last effort

Fair Odds-7/5

Overall

The fact that a Grade I winner is ranked off the board in the Grade III DEL Oaks signals to the power of this quintet and with five-lengths to spare in her last, Sirens Blaring seems to be the type who will relish this level and handle both the distance and the outside gate. Kentucky Fried Chick was good enough to handle older rivals over this course last time out so she ranks second in the group while Pure Lisa can be moving forward off three straight wins and could be another on the improve.

Prediction

Win-Sirens Blaring (7/5)

Place-Kentucky Fried Chick (3/1)

Show-Pure Lisa (4/1)

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III