Delaware: L'Oiseau d'Argent all the way

In a field scratched down from 14 horses to only four, L'Oiseau d'Argent led every step to win the $97,000 Sussex Handicap at Delaware Park by a length over Stage Call.

Sent off at even money under Abel Castellano Jr., L'Oiseau d'Argent was allowed to run uncontested on the front end. At no call before the wire was any rival closer than 1 1/2 lengths of him.

Mr O'Brien, the close second choice in the betting, swung off the rail with a wide bid on the far turn but had no stretch kick and finished third.

L'Oiseau d'Argent, owned by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, ran the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.24 and paid $4.