Coming off a troubled ninth in Pimlico's Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on May 20, Midnight Stroll and Eric Cancel held off Shotgun Hottie and Trevor McCarthy by a head to win the 71st running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks on Saturday at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. Morning Matcha rallied from last to be third, with Republique fourth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies. Frippet was scratched.
Midnight Stroll, a Not This Time filly out of Midnight Magic, by Midnight Lute, is owned by Gatsas Stable, R.A. Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld and trained by John P. Terranova II. Bred in Florida by Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg DVM, Midnight Stroll was purchased as a yearling by Tonja Terranova, agent, for $225,000 at the OBS October Sale. She covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.31 and paid $7.20 as 5-2 co-favorite with the runner-up.
McCarthy claimed foul against the winner alleging stretch interference, but stewards allowed the original order of finish to stand as it appeared there was no contact between the two horses despite Midnight Stroll drifting out several paths.
Midnight Stroll, winner of the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in late March, had considerable trouble in her next start in the Black-Eyed Susan. Ridden that day by Javier Castellano, Midnight Stroll checked off a horse's heels into the first turn, then was very wide around the clubhouse turn and in the run down the backstretch. She made a wide move going into the far turn but flattened out to finish 13 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Interstatedaydream.
Entered and scratched twice since the Black-Eyed Susan, including in the G2 Mother Goose at Belmont June 25, Midnight Stroll enjoyed a ground-saving trip in the Delaware Oaks while Shotgun Hottie raced three or four wide much of the way.
Chardonnay and Unadulterated battle for the early lead, getting the opening quarter mile in :23.10 and the half in :46.69, with Unadulterated and jockey Feargal Lynch opening up on the field approaching the far turn, the six furlongs clocked in 1:11.13.
Cancel put Midnight Stroll into high gear and overtook Unadulterated before reaching the quarter pole. Shotgun Hottie was in pursuit of the eventual winner, who drifted wide into the stretch and continued to drift out in the final furlong after passing the mile marker in 1:37.94. The William Morey trained filly by Gun Runner never could put her head in front of Midnight Stroll and settled for second in her first start since a third-place finish in the G3 Gazelle on April 9.
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