Admiral Dennis. (Delaware Park photo)
Fondly Cruises to Delaware Oaks Score
Mailbu Beauty Notches Upset Score in Obeah Stakes
Full Moon Madness Takes Alapocas Run
Vote No Says Yes in Cape Henlopen Stakes
Chris Sobocinski/Delaware Park
WILMINGTON, Del.—Albaugh Family Stables’ Admiral Dennis dominated the inaugural $200,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park today.
With Luan Machado aboard, the Kentucky-bred trained by Brad Cox won by 3 1/4-lengths and returned $6.40 as the second choice in the field of eight. The son of Constitution covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.57 over a fast-main track. Barbadian Runner, with Forest Boyce, finished second. It was another 3-lengths farther back to the 9-to-5 favorite Kentucky Outlaw, with Paco Lopez, in third.
Admiral Dennis raised his career record to three wins from seven starts with earnings of $331,988.
Fondly Cruises to Delaware Oaks Score
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stable’s Fondly cruised to an easy front running victory in the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park today.
With Irad Ortiz, Jr aboard, the Kentucky-bred trained by H. Graham Motion won by 3-lengths and returned $9.80 as the third choice in the field of nine. After cutting early fractions of :49.64 for the half mile and 1:14.66 for the three-quarter miles, the daughter of Upstart completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45.61 over a fast-main track. The 5-to-2 favorite Margie’s Intention, with Luan Machado finished second and it was another ¾-lengths farther back to Kinzie Queen, with Junior Alvarado, in third.
Fondly raised her career record to three wins from four starts with earnings of $339,200. She also won the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs on March 15 before finishing unplaced in the Kentucky Oaks.
“I think she confirmed what we thought of her,” said winning trainer H. Graham Motion. “We knew we were asking a lot of her to run in the Kentucky Oaks, but it is tempting when you have the points. It is a shame that track came up the way it did. I think it was just a tough experience for her. But look, she bounced back out right after it, trained here for three weeks and some very good works. She is a very easy filly to train. She is a very straight forward filly. She is as talented as any 3-year-old filly I have had.”
For H. Graham Motion, this is his third career Delaware Oaks victory. He won the race with Sincerely in 2000 and with Fortune Pearl in in 2014.
“We had some great experiences in this race,” Motion said, who has 35 Delaware Park career stake wins. “We won this race for Larry Johnson who is no longer with us. We won this race with Michael McCarthy riding for us, and we came back an won this race with his son Trevor riding for us, so we have had some great experiences with this race and at this track.”
Mailbu Beauty Notches Upset Score in Obeah Stakes
Z W P Stable and Non Stop Stable’s Malibu Beauty won the $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park today.
With Paco Lopez aboard, the Maryland-bred trained by Gary Capuano posted a 3-length score and returned $22.00. Gun Song, with John Velazquez, finished second and it was another 1 ¼-lengths farther back to Ragtime Belle, with Jaime Rodriguez, in third. The even-money favorite in the field of six, Sidamara, with Junior Alvarado, finished fifth.
After setting early fractions of :47.36 for the half mile and 1:12.73 for the three-quarter miles, Malibu Beauty covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.61 over fast main tarck. The 7-year-old daughter of Buffum raised her career record to 14 wins from 44 starts with earnings of $909,339. Her Delaware Park record is now six wins, three seconds and two thirds from 16 starts.
“I was feeling good going into the far turn, “said winning trainer Gary Capuano. “I could see Paco (Lopez) was really confident. He had to slow her down a little bit down the backside and then it seemed like she relaxed. Coming to the 5/16ths pole, I saw him kind of take a peak back, so I know he had some horse, and I did not see anyone really running, so I was like let’s give them the slip now and lets go. She did and she is tough. It was just another great effort, and she is amazing. She stays local, so if everything goes right, the Delaware Handicap would be nice if everything works out.”
Full Moon Madness Takes Alapocas Run
Jay Em Ess Stable’s Full Moon Madness won the $100,000 Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park today.
With Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, the Kentucky-bred trained by Michelle Nevin prevailed by a neck over Buccherino, with Paco Lopez. It was another 1 ¼-lengths farther back Damon’s Mound, with Junior Alvarado, in third. Full Moon Madness returned $5.80 as the favorite in the field of six. The 5-year-old son of Into Mischief covered the six furlongs in 1:11.02 over a fast-main track.
Full Moon Madness raised his career record to five wins from 15 starts with earnings of $437,250.
