Two starters from the key race of the 2017 Oaklawn Park live racing meeting are scheduled to run Saturday, including multiple Grade 1 winner Elate in the Grade 2 $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park.
Elate, a daughter of Oaklawn stakes winners Medaglia d'Oro and Cheery, has not started since finishing fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 3 at Del Mar for co-breeders/owners Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
After finishing third in Oaklawn's Grade 2 $200,000 Honeybee Stakes in March 2017, Elate won the Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga and Grade 1 $400,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park and was a finalist for champion 3-year-old filly.
Elate is the 2-1 program favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap, one of the country's most prestigious races for older fillies and mares. She is scheduled to break from post 6 under Jose Ortiz and carry 117 pounds.
The projected nine-horse field has a heavy Oaklawn flavor.
Unbridled Mo (5-2) won the Grade 1 $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 13, Oaklawn's biggest two-turn race for older fillies and mares.
Farrell (9-2) went through Oaklawn's four-race series of two-turn stakes races for older fillies and mares this year, winning the $125,000 Pippin Jan. 13 before finishing seventh in the Apple Blossom. Farrell is a multiple graded stakes winner of $954,777.
Fuhriously Kissed (15-1) finished second in two maiden special weights events at the 2016 Oaklawn meeting and third in this year's Apple Blossom.
Probable post time for the Delaware Handicap, which goes as race 9, is 4:35 p.m.
A number of Oaklawn-raced horses are entered Saturday at Indiana Grand, which will run six consecutive stakes races on its program.
The 10-race card is highlighted by the Grade 3 $500,000 Indiana Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
Indiana Derby entrants include Title Ready (12-1), who raced three times this year at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, winning a Feb. 1 allowance race before running fourth in the Grade 2 $900,000 Rebel Stakes March 17 and fourth in the $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes April 14.
Northern Spur winner High North won the $250,000 Iowa Derby Friday at Prairie Meadows.
Ricardo Santana Jr., Oaklawn's leading rider the last six years, is scheduled to ride Title Ready in the Indiana Derby. Also entered is The Money Dance (20-1), who broke his maiden April 14 at Oaklawn. The Money Dance ran for trainer Mike Lauer, who recently recorded his 1,000th career North American victory, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.
Probable post time for the Indiana Derby, which goes as race 9, is 8:48 p.m.
Oaklawn-raced horses entered in other stakes races include Dutch Parrot, Torrent and Pinch Hit in the $100,000 Mari Hulman George for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; Lookin At Lee in the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at 1 mile and 70 yards; Dutch Parrot and Lovely Bernadette in the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass; and Harbor Lights in the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Recruiting Ready, winner of the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in 2017 at Oaklawn, is entered in the $75,000 Hockessin Stakes Saturday at Delaware Park. Probable post time for the 6-furlong Hockessin, which goes as race 7, is 3:23 p.m.
Oaklawn-raced Hoffenheim, second in a 2016 maiden special weights event for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, is the 9-5 program favorite for the $50,000 Carl Hanford Memorial Stakes. Probable post time for the 1 1/16-mile Carl Hanford Stakes, which goes as race 5, is 2:19 p.m.
Another 2017 Honeybee starter, Lovely Bernadette, is the 8-5 program favorite for the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile grass race for older fillies and mares, Saturday at Indiana Grand.
Now with Bernie Flint, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 1992 and 1993, Lovely Bernadette exits a victory in the Grade 3 $100,000 Mint Julep Handicap June 9 at Churchill Downs.
Following the Honeybee, Lovely Bernadette became a multiple graded stakes winner on turf last fall.
Probable post time for the Indiana General Assembly, which goes as race 6, is 6:54 p.m.
Seven of the 11 starters from the 2017 Honeybee have returned to win stakes races, including It Tiz Well, Benner Island, Elate, Ever So Clever and Lovely Bernadette in graded company.
Red Ruby, fourth in this year's Honeybee, won the $300,000 Grade 3 Delaware Oaks Saturday at Delaware Park.
Pickford, an April 7 starter/optional claiming winner at Oaklawn, is the 2-1 second choice in the program for the $50,000 Count Lathum Handicap for 3-year-olds Saturday at Northlands Park in Canada. Probable post time for the 1 1/16-mile Count Lathum, which goes as race 7, is 4:56 p.m.
Two starters from the Grade 3 $500,000 Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds in 2016 at Oaklawn recorded strong finishes in stakes events Saturday. Southwest runner-up Whitmore was second in the Grade 2 $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship at Belmont Park. Southwest sixth Synchrony finished third in the Grade 3 $100,000 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park.
Whitmore, Synchrony and 2016 Southwest starters American Dubai (third) and Collected (fourth) all became multiple stakes winners after the major Arkansas Derby prep.
Seven Trumpets, seventh in this year's Southwest, finished second in the Grade 3 $300,000 Dwyer Stakes Saturday at Belmont Park.
Sports on 07/13/2018