April Gaze tries going longer in Christiana Stakes

Delaware Park will run the two biggest stakes of its meet the next two Saturdays: the $300,000 Delaware Oaks this Saturday and the Grade 1, $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 16. On Wednesday, Delaware will hold a table-setter of sorts: the $50,000 Christiana, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

The Christiana has been well received and has a 13-horse field. Shug McGaughey, Christophe Clement, and Michael Dilger have entered New York-based runners. Jose Ortiz is named to ride My Impression for McGaughey, and Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount on Gioia Stella for Clement.

Mid-Atlantic-stabled contenders include April Gaze, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr.; Involuntary, conditioned by Arnaud Delacour; and Leafy Shade, who races for Eddie Graham.

April Gaze has proved a nice claim for Plesa. He took her for $50,000 out of a 6 1/4-length debut victory at Gulfstream Park West in November, and she has since won starter and first-level optional-claiming races at Gulfstream and a Florida-bred stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

April Gaze made her turf debut last out in the Crank It Up Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park. After breaking slowly, she rallied to finish fourth, beaten two lengths by the promising Brandy’s Girl. The runner-up, Tizanillusion, who beat April Gaze by a half-length, came back to be beaten a nose in a $50,000 starter race at Belmont Park last Friday.

Although April Gaze has won twice at seven furlongs on dirt, she will be stretching out three furlongs Wednesday.

“The first time we ran her, it was apparent that she wants to go farther,” Plesa said. “We ran her on turf last time, and the surface was not a problem. She’ll be stretching out a long ways, but it is what it is. It’s a big field because everyone is looking to get some black type.”

Christiana, Race 8

Key Contenders

April Gaze, by High Cotton

Last 3 Beyers: 68-68-79

◗ Plesa won’t be on hand at Delaware because he and his wife, Laurie, will be celebrating their anniversary by going to see the play “Hamilton.” On Sunday, Plesa was already thinking about how he was going to watch the race.

“Don’t even think about watching it in the theater,” Laurie Plesa warned.

My Impression, by Sky Mesa

Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-74

◗ She finished fifth, beaten two lengths, in the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct in April. The winner, Time and Motion, came back to win the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont on June 5.

Involuntary, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 84-76-70

◗ Trainer Delacour has entered Involuntary and Strong Gale. Involuntary won at Tampa Bay Downs and Pimlico to begin her career and was third last out in the $194,000 Penn Oaks.

Gioia Stella, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-76

◗ Scored a 3 3/4-length maiden win on the Aqueduct turf in April. She weakened late to finish seventh in the Wonder Again.

Leafy Shade, by New Approach

Last 2 Beyers: 74-66

◗ Irish import won a first-level allowance at Pimlico last out. She may have waited after making the lead in midstretch and could have more to give at a fair price.

Outsider Art, Five Star Day

Last 3 Beyers: 81-69-85

◗ She was extremely difficult to saddle prior to the Penn Oaks, then went out and finished a decent fourth. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard has run her in four straight stakes – three graded – and she merits respect.