DEL Oaks (Grade 3)- $300.000
DEL- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
July 2, 2022

This Saturday, we get to enjoy some racing from DEL as a field of six fillies goes to post for the 17th running of the DEL Oaks. This has never been a race to attract a large field for some reason, as in checking the field sizes for the last ten years, either five or six horses were entered. It’s $300.000 purse has been consistent since 2013, but lower than the $500.000 that the race debuted at in 2006. It was a Grade 2 that year, and stayed that way until being downgraded in 2015. Mb Stables won the race last year with Feral Impact, and it would end up being the last win of her career. She is now in her second life as a broodmare. Here’s a look at those enjoying their current life, as stakes’ caliber racehorses!

#1- Present Tense (Mb Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- This will be her first race since running in the KYO, and she is glad the past tense is used for that one. It was an unusually poor showing for a horse that surprised many when she won the Holy Bull in February. Also had a strong juvenile campaign, with two wins in the FL Sire Stakes that are contested in the summer. If the KYO is a blip on her resume, she can handle this field just fine.

#2- Matamata (Smokey Stover, ridden by A Suarez)- Three weeks ago, this filly ran third in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks, one spot behind Sister Crespi though that one did beat her by about two lengths. She went into the race with two consecutive wins, one being the $75.000 CA Oaks. Matamata has won four out of twelve, and has hit the board in each of her last five starts. Wouldn’t be surprised to see her close to, or at the front, early.

#3- Kalthoff Repeater (Spankys Barn, ridden by F Prat)- Also ran three weeks ago, but it was not in the Summertime Oaks. Kalthoff Repeater was at CD, running in the $160.000 Leslies Lady Stakes against three others, and finished second. That’s the same spot she finished in the race prior, also at CD, the Grade 2 Eight Belles. Looking to pick up her first stake win, but has definitely been a terrific $10.000 claim.

#4- Cmonyalll (Arindel, ridden by P Lopez)- Looking at this past performances, it seems like she is very good, or very bad with almost no in between. Has two good looking wins, including her last start, the $150.000 Melair Stakes for CA-breds. Also ran well in the $200.000, running third, but within a half length in the $200.000 Martha Washington. Then, there’s some eye opening poor results. One, but not all, can be blamed on the weather. Don’t know if I trust her to put money on, even virtual money.

#5- Sister Crespi (Nakamura Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- If this one runs the way she is capable of, then she is the class of the field. Sister Crespi is one of two horses to have run in the KYO, but unlike Present Tense, she cashed a check in it, placing fourth. She followed that up very well, running second three weeks ago in the Summertime Oaks. If there’s something to fear with on her, it’s her running style of coming from off the pace, but she knows how to make it work.

#6- Feliz Cumpleanos (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J K Court)- It can be tough to see a good horse like this with as many private sales lines as she does race lines, but for the first time this year, Feliz Cumpleanos will run two races for the same trainer. Hopefully, she has found a long term home with Maxmillion Farm. Only has won stake to her credit, but her last race, a $127.000 allowance is as good as any stake. She lost the headbob there to Grande Sunset. By the way, that’s the same Grande Sunset who the Summertime Oaks in her next start.

Prediction: 5-6-2-1

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES