Churchill Downs Stakes: Delaunay romps in slop
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Delaunay absolutely dominated his competition Saturday in the 79th running of the Grade 2, $443,600 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
With Rosie Napravnik aboard, Delaunay got a perfect stalking trip, tracking Trinniberg past the half-mile pole before gliding past with ease, winning by four lengths for his seventh win in eight starts since being claimed by Tom Amoss on behalf of owner Maggi Moss.
Delaunay, a 6-year-old gelding, returned $5.80 as favorite in a field of nine older horses. He finished in 1:22.35 over a sloppy track.
Pass the Dice finished second, another three lengths before Laurie’s Rocket. Trinniberg, the 2012 sprint champion, faded badly to be seventh.
“It worked out just how we hoped it would,” said Amoss. “The outside post was a help, but this horse is just so good, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered.”
Delaunay, a Maryland-bred by Smoke Glacken, earned $264,031 and remained unbeaten over the Churchill main track, where he now has won four times. Overall, he has won 14 of 39 starts for earnings of just over $800,000.
The $2 exacta (9-6) paid $50.20, the $1 trifecta (9-6-3) returned $200.50, and the $1 superfecta (9-6-3-4) was worth $1,700.40.
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