Delaware: Joy makes Motion look wise by taking Christiana

Trainer Graham Motion cut his numbers advantage in half by scratching two of the four 3-year-old fillies he entered in Wednesday’s $50,000 Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park. Motion kept the right pair, however, as Joy emerged from a three-way stretch battle with Savvy Hester and Hold Our Destiny to prevail by a length in the one-mile turf race.

It was the second straight turf win and third overall victory in 11 lifetime starts for Joy ($7), ridden for the first time by Matt Rispoli. She ran the distance on a course upgraded from yielding to firm during the card in 1:37.90.

Savvy Hester, who tried to mount a rally between horses in the stretch, finished second by a neck at 9-1 under Abel Castellano. Hold Our Destiny, who led until she was collared by Savvy Hester and Joy at top of the stretch, settled for third as the 2-1 favorite in a field reduced to six by four scratches. Motion's ssecond runner, Le Fascinator, finished fourth at 5-2.

Joy, a daughter of Pure Prize owned by Dark Hollow Farm, was stepping up in class following a 2 3/4-length win in a fist-level allowance.

One of the horses Motion scratched, Makayla’s Angel, will run instead in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Delaware Oaks on the main track.