WILMINGTON, Delaware, CMC – Barbadian coach Saffie Joseph Jr logged maybe his most profitable win of the calendar 12 months when 2-1 alternative Honor D Girl stormed to the seize of the US$500 125 Grade II Delaware Handicap in the principle function at Delaware Park.
Going a mile and three-sixteenth for the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares on Sunday, jockey Jose Ortiz stalked with Honor D Girl from third earlier than bidding on the flip, grabbing the lead on the high of the stretch and roaring to the end 5-½ lengths clear in a time of 1 minute, 59.86 seconds.
13-to-one Saddle up Jessie ran on to be second whereas favourite Moist Paint got here from final to grab third.
For Honor D Girl, the win was her fifth in 13 begins and her third graded success following victory within the Remington Park Oaks final 12 months and the Royal Delta Stakes final February – each Grade III.
“She kinda took the lead a bit of bit earlier than I wished her to, so I needed to seize her and take the momentum away from her,” Ortiz stated afterward.
“However I used to be sitting on many horses, and I admire Saffie for giving me the chance all year long.”
Honor D Girl survived a bump on the break to settle into stride in third, as 6-1 alternative Abundancia pulled the sector by way of the quarter mile in a leisurely 24.07 seconds earlier than finishing the half in 49.67.
Malibu Magnificence, the longest shot within the race at 51-1, stalked from second with the trio Saddle Up Jessie, Queen of Missoula, and Moist Paint, preserving an in depth watch on the leaders.
Heading down the backstretch, Ortiz eased Honor D Girl off the rail and into the clear earlier than surging on the skin to take out each front-runners and enter the lane in command.
Saddle Up Jessie chased desperately, however the four-year-old filly Honor D Girl widened her lead impressively to achieve wire strongly.
Sunday proved a profitable day for Joseph because the 37-year-old noticed favourite Stat dismiss the three-year-olds and transfer upward by 1-¾ lengths to win the $ 100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
She was ridden by Edgard Zayas, the five-year-old chestnut gelding stalked pacesetter Themanupfront earlier than grabbing the lead and passing the eighth pole to tug away.
The victory was one among 4 for Joseph on the 10-race card as he additionally took race one with favourite Nate the Nice, race seven with 3-1 alternative Mrs. Gambolini, and race eight with favourite Sunroof.
Joseph has stormed to 59 wins within the Gulfstream Park season to steer the championship by a whopping 29.
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