Big Cuddle is too much in the Delaware Derby, Tim Sudduth Photo
Delaware Park Press
Wilmington, Del. — Pocket 3’s Racing’s Big Cuddle easily won the $300,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park today.
With Yedsit Hazlewood aboard, the Delaware Certified Maryland-bred trained by Gary Capuano won by 4-lengths and returned $4.60 as the favorite in the field of six. The son of Great Notion covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.27 over a fast-main track. Out of the Woods, with John Velazquez, finished second. It was another 1 1/2-lengths farther back to Sovereign Law, with Irad Ortiz, in third.
Big Cuddle raised his career record to four wins from five starts with earnings of $340,020.
Previously, he won the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16.
“In his last race, the Sir Barton, he had to start and stop a couple of different times, so it really showed he has guts, determination and talent,” said winning trainer Gary Capuano. “He had to sit off the pace today and it kind of looked like he was dragging him (jockey Yedset Hazlewood) up there. He has just been a great horse to be around and we are very happy with today. Stretching him out was a big thing and he is definitely improving, so we will see where we go from here.”
