Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stables' Battle Bling tops a field of six entered in the $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on Wednesday, June 8. The 1 1/16-mile affair is the local prep for the filly and mare summer classic – the 1 1/4-mile Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on Saturday, July 9.
In her most recent, Battle Bling finished fourth in the mile and a sixteenth $750,000 G1 La Troinenne Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 6. Prior to that, the 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver made four starts at Aqueduct. The Kentucky-bred trained by Rob Atras finished second in the 1 1/8-mile Top Flight Invitational on April 10, second in the one mile Heavenly Prize Stakes on March 6, won the 1 1/8-mile Ladies Stakes on Jan. 16, and ran second in an optional claiming race in which she was claimed for $62,500 on Dec. 19.
Battle Bling has a career record of three wins, six seconds, and a third from 16 starts with earnings of $285,617.
“She is doing good,” said trainer Rob Atras. “She came out of her last race in pretty good shape. We were not sure which direction we were going to go for her next race, but after her last work, we decided on the Obeah. We will certainly consider the Delaware Handicap with a good showing. She is the kind of filly who gets better the longer she goes, so if she handles the track and everything else goes good, the Del Cap is on the radar.”
Goodwood Racing's Flight to Shanghai will have the home field advantage. The 4-year-old daughter of Shanghai Bobby is currently stabled at Delaware Park in the barn of trainer Jane Cibelli.
In her most recent outing, Flight to Shanghai ran third in the mile and seventy yard Serena's Song Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 8. In her only other outing this year, she was unplaced in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park on April 16. Last year, she posted a pair of Delaware Park allowance victories from as many outings. She has a career record of three wins, three seconds and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $129,760.
'She could not be doing better,” said trainer Jane Cibelli. “She came out of the stake at Monmouth great and she has been training nicely since. Two of her three career victories have been over this track, so we are looking forward to this stake over our home track. The reason for running in the Obeah is because we do have the Delaware Handicap in our plans, but she will need a solid effort in the Obeah, for us to consider that next step.”
The race is named in honor of the two-time Delaware Handicap winner in 1969 and 1970 and the dam of the Hall of Fame filly Go For Wand who was locally owned by Jane and Harry duPont's Christiana Stable. Horses finishing first, second, third or fourth in the Obeah Stakes will automatically earn a free nomination to the Delaware Handicap.
Since the Obeah Stakes was inaugurated in 1996, three fillies or mares have won the race and followed with a victory in the Delaware Handicap. They were the 2006 older female champion Fleet Indian, I'm a Chatterbox, who won the race in 2016, and Miss Marissa, who won last year. Two fillies have finished second in the Obeah and won the Delaware Handicap. They were Power Play in 1997 and Unbridled Belle in 2007. Three winners of the Obeah Stakes have followed by running second in the Delaware Handicap. They were Under the Rug in 2001, Your Out in 2002, and the 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace.
$100,000 Obeah Stakes
For fillies and mares
at a mile and sixteenth
| PP | HORSE | OWNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | Wg | OD |
| 1 | Flight to Shanghai | Goodwood Racing | Jane Cibelli | Victor Carrasco | 119 | 5-1 |
| 2 | Moma Tiger | Maria Montez Haire | Flint Stites | Julio Hernandez | 119 | 8-1 |
| 3 | Hybrid Eclipse | Grey Fox Stable | Brittany Russell | Jevian Toledo | 119 | 8-1 |
| 4 | Miss Leslie | BB Horses | Claudio Gonzalez | Angel Cruz | 123 | 8/5 |
| 5 | Pettigo Girl | Bell Gable Stable | Gary Contessa | Raul Mena | 119 | 12-1 |
| 6 | Battle Bling | Dubb, & Garnharvi | Rob Atras | Kendrick Carmouche | 119 | 3/2 |
The post Battle Bling Headlines Local Prep For Delaware Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
