DEL Handicap (Grade 3)- $400.000 Purse
DEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
September 28, 2025

DEL will get a rare opportunity to get called into action on Sunday, as a field of six takes part in the $400.000 DEL Handicap. This is for fillies and mares on the main track and is run at nine furlongs. That purse amount is a far cry from the $1,000.000 that was offered from 2006-2009 and represents a low point for the race. The distance is also cut, having been at a mile and a quarter through 2022, then losing 1/16th of a mile in 2023. Another 1/16th of a mile was cut for this year, making it the first time the race has been run at a mile and an eighth. 2024’s race, held in July, was won by Shining At Knight, for Our Athletes, and she would go on to run third in the BC Distaff. She’s still active but has had a quiet five-year-old season. Here’s a look at the six that are running this year:

1- Libertie (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by Jo Torres)- Ran for just $8.470 last time out, so is not going to complain about the purse reduction for this race. That was a starter allowance at LAD where she was second best. Hasn’t done much this year to get that excited about, but the trainer sees something to run her here. Whatever it is, I’ll have to see it on track, first.

2- Red High Heels (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D Davis)- One of two in this race sired by Declassified, something that will naturally be mentioned when the writer owns him. Red High Heels has been quiet herself this year but has at least been running at this level consistently. Her best results are in overnights, such as in her last race, when she won at ELP.

3- Erupt In War (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by A Cedillo)- This filly has made five starts, winning once, then being a non-factor in her two races that followed. Looked better last time out, with a fourth-place run at SAR, which she may build upon here. She does work well, and I look for her to put in a strong performance here, despite her otherwise lack of on-track accolades.

4- Mightiness (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by G Corrales)- While Erupt In War is an intriguing entry by the trainer, Mightiness is the one he expects something good out of. She was picked up in the December auction and finished somewhere in the top four in each of her first five starts with the trainer before getting a chance in the $200.000 Groupie Doll at ELP. Not only did she look good, she picked up the win, and should build on that here. Not worried about her carrying one more pound than the rest.

5- Chilukki (Pan Farms, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Continues to get great opportunities, but has not done much to justify the chances. Through the Golden Rod last fall, where she was second, you could see the promise, but her five starts this year have led to a total of $3.720 in earnings. Thoroughly flat in her last two outings, both on the dirt and the turf, but the trainer hopes that will change. I’ll pass.

6- Lab Virus (Saratoga Stud, ridden by A Achard)- A veteran of 17 races, with four wins while hitting the board 13 times. Claimed by Saratoga Stud early last year, and has only won once in those silks, but it was a nice one: the Grade 3 Gazelle at AQU. Strong runner ups in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks and the Grade 1 CCA Oaks led us to believe that she was on to bigger and better things, but her progress has stalled out. That’s not to say that she’s been bad, and she’s not been second in three of her last four. Love her work from CD in anticipation of this, and all this makes her the one to beat.

Prediction: 6-4-3-2

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES