Delaware: Welcome Dance slows things down in Christiana

Welcome Dance got away with slow early fractions and no one could catch her in the stretch of Saturday’s $51,750 Christiana Stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies at Delaware Park.

Joe Rocco Jr. succeeded in slowing down the pace as Welcome Dance ($6.80) set fractions of 49.02 seconds and 1:13.03. She cruised home three lengths in front after completing 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:49.76.

It was the second stakes victory in the last three starts for Welcome Dance, a daughter of Henny Hughes owned by Ramona Bass and trained by Michael Matz. She is now 4 for 9 lifetime – all on the turf.

Filare l’Oro won a three-horse photo for second by a head over Zucchini Flower, who nosed out 14-1 outsider Isla for fourth. Vanishing finished fifth as the slight 2-1 favorite