Delta Form victorious in Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. - As a successful producer of movies such as "The Sixth Sense," Gary Barber is used to getting his way. Thankfully for Barber, his partners in Delta Form acquiesced to his wishes to run Delta Form in Sunday's $250,000 , and Delta Form rewarded Barber's faith with a 20-1 upset victory in the Grade 2 turf race.

Barber owns Delta Form with Team Valor, the partnership headed by Barry Irwin and Jeff Siegel. Neither Irwin nor Siegel was wild about running. Trainer Jenine Sahadi also was lukewarm on the idea. But after Sahadi answered "yes" to three questions posed by Barber -- was Delta Form sound, healthy, and training well? -- they decided to take a shot, especially after Delta Form drew the rail in the 1 3/8-mile race.

Jockey Goncalino Almeida used the draw to his advantage. He stayed on the rail for the first nine furlongs of the 11-furlong race, and only came off the rail to go around one horse. Delta Form hit the front with 100 yards to go, and outraced The Tin Man to win by a neck. Blue Steller was another length back in third. Favored Dance Dreamer was eighth.

Over a course that has gotten progressively harder and faster this summer, Delta Form set a course record of 2:12.15. He was the second-longest shot in the field, and paid $43.60 to win.

Delta Form, a 6-year-old gelding, was bred in Australia and raced in South Africa before coming to the United States last year. He has won 8-of-23 lifetime, and is 2-for-5 in this country.

The victory was the second stakes win of the day for Team Valor, which earlier Sunday captured the Silver Deputy Stakes at Woodbine with the 2-year-old Added Edge.