Delaware Park: She Be Classy takes off-the-turf Rooney

She Be Classy and Thundering Emilia, the two most successful runners on dirt with a combined seven victories, capitalized when Saturday’s $75,000 John Rooney Memorial Stakes was transferred from turf to Delaware Park’s main track by running one-two in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

She Be Classy ($8.80), who won her turf debut last month after going 3 for 14 on dirt, came from fourth and blew past South American import Thundering Emilia in the stretch, drawing off by 3 1/2 lengths under Joe Rocco Jr. while completing the distance in 1:45.31.

Thundering Emila, breaking from the outside in a field reduced to seven by eight scratches, had spent most of the race dueling up front with Shirley She Can, a Nick Zito-trained filly making only her third start on dirt. Thundering Emilia, a Grade 3 winner in Peru, where she was 4 for 12 on dirt, led through six furlongs in 1:13.28 and a mile in 1:38.94 before weakening in the final furlong. She held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Millennia, making her first start since early December.

Trained by Graham Motion for owner Nancy Mazzoni, She Be Classy’s only previous stakes appearance produced a sixth-place finish in the Maryland Racing Media in February. She is now 5 for 20 overall.