BB Horses' Miss Leslie cruised to an easy victory in the $500,125 Delaware Handicap (G2) Saturday at Delaware Park.
With Angel Cruz aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Paynter won a by a race-setting record margin of 12 lengths. The previous record was held by Hall of Famer Royal Delta who won the Delaware Handicap by 10 ¾ lengths in 2013.
Miss Leslie returned $5.80 as the favorite in the field of seven.
Battle Bling finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Tonal Vision in third.
Let's Cruise, with Carol Cedeno aboard, set early fractions of :48.49 for the half mile and 1:13.73 for the three-quarters mile before fading to sixth. The final time for the 1 ¼ miles was 2:04.50 over a sloppy track.
This was the third straight victory for Miss Leslie who won the Serena's Song at Monmouth Park on May 8 and she followed with a victory in the Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 8.
Winning trainer Claudio Gonzalez knew the Kentucky-bred filly was ready, and he was pleased the preparations showed with her performance.
“This a good feeling because she won impressive,” Gonzalez said. “She has been doing really good and she showed how well she is doing. When she goes long, she is an even better filly.”
Gonzalez is not sure where he will run Miss Leslie next, but he could consider a Grade 1 especially after her impressive victory.
“We got to think about that but that with way she ran today, but let's see how she comes back and how she is doing,” he said. “After that, we will decide on what we will do.”
Cruz, who has been aboard Miss Leslie for her last nine outings, knew she was going to be tough, but he was even surprised by her dominating victory.
“It feels awesome,” Cruz said. “Claudio (Gonzalez) has trusted me with this filly the whole time and he really had her ready today. I just cruised along with her. She just kept going. I only hit her twice and she just galloped. I looked back and I was home free. It was a nice performance and I did not expect to win like that. She was ready today.”
Since the Obeah Stakes was inaugurated in 1996, four fillies or mares have won the race and followed with a victory in the Delaware Handicap. They were the 2006 champion older female champion Fleet Indian; I'm a Chatterbox, who won the race in 2016;; Miss Marissa, who won last year; and now Miss Leslie. 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.
Miss Leslie has a 10-3-2 record from 22 career starts and $865,650 in purse earnings. She was bred by Maxis Stable from the Mingun mare Zeenut.
The post Miss Leslie Draws Off To Win Delaware Handicap By Stakes Record Margin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
