Delaware Park: Irish Sonnet Stakes gives entire field a two-turn test

Eight 2-year-old fillies, all stretching out around two turns for the first time, will run a mile on the main track in Monday’s $50,000 Irish Sonnet Stakes at Delaware Park.

Southwest Lady, part of a coupled entry for trainer Ricky Griffith, is the lone two-time winner in the field. She most recently scored by 2 1/2 lengths over a sloppy track on Aug. 22.

Griffith primarily races at Woodbine, but is a solid 11 for 47 (23 percent) with the runners he has sent to Delaware this season. From a limited sampling, Griffith is 1 for 9 with 2-year-olds returning in less than 30 days to make their first route attempt.

Witch Alert and Con Gee, both coming off maiden victories, are from sires with offspring who have had success going long.

Witch Alert, a four-length winner in his career debut going five furlongs July 10, is a daughter of Tiz Wonderful, whose best current performer is the 3-year-old filly My Happy Face. She finished second going 1 1/8 miles in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

Con Gee, who shipped to Saratoga to defeat New York-bred fillies after a pair of on-the-board finishes at Delaware, is by Congaree. His notable offspring include Jeranimo, a two-time graded stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the mare Don’t Tell Sophia, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park.

Con Gee also is a half-sister to Lady Candidate, who won her two-turn debut at Fair Grounds and won a route stakes on Polytrack at Arlington Park.

Trainer John Robb has the uncoupled entry of Stormin Wendy and Respectful Wishes. Stormin Wendy earned a far better Beyer Speed Figure (69) than Respectful Wishes (52) in her maiden victory, but Respectful Wishes matches a successful pattern for Robb with his 2-year-olds trying a route for the first time following a break of 31 to 60 days. Robb is 2 for 3 with that angle the past five years.