Award Wanted pulls off upset in Obeah
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Award Wanted upset heavily favored Morning Matcha in Saturday's $150,000 Obeah Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park.
The 1 1/16-mile Obeah is the local prep for the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Handicap at 1 3/16 miles on July 8.
Sent away the longest shot in the five-horse field, Award Wanted broke sharp under jockey Angel Cruz, and they sparred inside of Traverse through slow fractions of 24.91 and 49.93 seconds.
Award Wanted shook loose of Traverse after six furlongs in 1:15.42 and opened a clear lead at the three-sixteenths pole.
Morning Matcha, who settled into pocket position going into the first turn under Paco Lopez, took aim on the pacesetter turning into the straight.
Lopez opted to remain outside of a weaving Award Wanted in midstretch, and Morning Matcha slowly began to grind away at the leader.
Morning Matcha stayed on well, but Award Wanted got home first. She completed the distance in 1:49.28 and returned $38 to Win.
Morning Matcha finished a nose behind in second with Hybrid Eclipse another 7 1/2-lengths back in third. Then came Tap the Faith and Traverse.
Pistol Liz Ablazen scratched to instead race in an allowance at Parx on Monday, per trainer Butch Reid.
"This track is really heavy right now," winner trainer John Robb said in a post-race interview broadcast by Delaware Park. "We've trained over it, and I think that's a big advantage."
A 6-year-old mare bred in Maryland by Dr. Alexandro Rubim Dias, Award Wanted was claimed by No Guts No Glory Farm and Erica Upton for $16,000 out of a winning effort on Feb. 21, 2021.
"She was just consistent," Robb said about what prompted him to claim Award Wanted. "She was right there every time and looked like she wanted to go a little longer."
Award Wanted has won 8 of 27 starts for her current connections. The Obeah was her second stakes victory as she captured Laurel's restricted Geisha traveling a one-turn mile in her first start of 2023.
By Macho Uno, Award Wanted has earned $487,950. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner V. I. P. Ticket.
Robb said he would consider the Delaware Handicap for Award Wanted's next start.
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