Delaware: Under the Rug impressive

The only two times Under the Rug faced graded stakes company last season she performed poorly and was beaten a combined margin of just over 30 lengths.

After watching how impressively Under the Rug ran in Sunday's $100,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park, however, trainer James Murphy is willing to give his 6-year-old mare another shot in a major stakes.

Under the Rug ($7.20) appears to have earned herself a berth in Delaware's biggest race of the season, the Grade 3 $600,000 Delaware Handicap on July 22, after scoring a 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Obeah. Her time over a fast track was 1:51.20.

"We have to give the Delaware Handicap a go now," said Murphy. "I was expecting her to run well, but not that good."