Main Event takes early lead, keeps it in Kent Stakes
Earlier this week, trainer George Weaver told Daily Racing Form that Main Event wasn’t “going to be a deep closer no matter how he breaks.”
His words proved prophetic on Saturday when Main Event wrested command soon after the start and took the field gate to wire in Delaware Park’s Grade 3, $200,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.
The Kent was one of three stakes on the Delaware Oaks undercard along with the $100,000 Alapocas Run for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs and the Christiana for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Weaver said that he “over-adjusted our strategy” when preparing Main Event for Churchill’s Grade 2 American Turf on May 7. “The course wasn’t kind to speed that week, there was a lot of give in the course, and we were concerned that you didn’t want to be on the front end or anywhere near it.”
Main Event raced in eighth position at the pace call of the American Turf, was last after six furlongs, and passed only one runner in the stretch.
Weaver’s proclamation showed that he wasn’t going to take Main Event out of his comfort zone, and the colt responded.
Main Event advanced between horses leaving the turf course chute to set the pace nearest the rail through solid fractions of 23.65 and 47.12 seconds while pressured from the outside by Uncle Irish.
Jockey Eric Cancel let it out a notch following six furlongs in 1:11.05 and Main Event moved to a clear lead turning into the stretch. Late-kicking Elizar cut into the margin during the final furlong, but Main Event’s tactical advantage was insurmountable.
Main Event finished 1 1/2 lengths better than Elizar and completed the distance in 1:48.74. Tommy Bee was another 3/4 lengths back in third. Next up were Speaking Scout, Wow Whata Summer, Xy Time, and Uncle Irish.
King of Hollywood and Main Track Only entrant Rod Two Rod scratched. Main Event returned $10.60 to win as the third choice.
Owned by Harrell Ventures LLC, Main Event was unplaced in both starts on dirt last year but graduated in his seasonal and turf debut in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream on Jan. 30.
A near-miss followed in the Palm Beach Stakes there on March 5 when attempting to rally from slightly off the pace, then Main Event became a stakes winner when reverting to front-running tactics in Gulfstream’s Cutler Bay on April 2, his final start before the American Turf.
Main Event was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, and Eric and Elizabeth Buckley. The bay has won three of seven starts for earnings of $246,333.
*Alapocas Run
Whereshetoldmetogo utilized stalk and pounce tactics to win the Alapocas Run for the second consecutive year.
Ridden by Jevian Toledo for trainer Brittany Russell, Whereshetoldmetogo settled outside in the second flight as, from the rail out, Greeley and Ben, Hopeful Treasure, Sir Alfred James and No Cents engaged in a spirited pace skirmish through an opening quarter in 22.57 seconds.
No Cents made a wide bid for the lead after a half-mile in 45.02 seconds, but Whereshetoldmetogo was prepared to pounce. The 7-year-old gelded son of El Padrino soon drove past No Cents and went on to score by 2 3/4 lengths over a wide-rallying Drafted.
It was another nose back to No Cents in third. Then came Greeley and Ben, Full Authority, Hopeful Treasure and Sir Alfred James. Borracho and Defend both scratched.
Whereshetoldmetogo completed six furlongs in 1:09.61 seconds and paid $5.80 as the race favorite.
Russell has managed Whereshetoldemetogo through myriad foot issues and her patience has been rewarded. Whereshetoldmetogo is perfect from three starts this year and has won five of his last six races.
Bred in Maryland by David Wade, Whereshetoldmetogo is owned by the partnership of Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber, and Russell's BTR Racing. He has won 16 times from 35 starts for earnings of $895,295 and is widely considered one of the region's top sprinters.
Furthermore, Whereshetoldmetogo has proven to be a true horse for course with a record of 8-6-2-0 over the Delaware main track.
*Christiana
Apparently, all Sparkle Blue needed was a little mental health break.
Trained by Graham Motion for Catherine Parke and Augustin Stable, Sparkle Blue made her first start since finishing a disappointing 10th of 11 runners in Del Mar's Grade 3 Jimmy Durante on Nov. 27 and survived a lengthy stewards' inquiry to capture the Christiana.
“Nothing physical,” Motion remarked earlier in the week concerning the long layoff. “She just wasn’t doing very well mentally and was quite difficult for Jose [Ortiz] to ride that day. She’s come to hand quicker than I thought she would.”
Sparkle Blue's quirkiness did cause some Christiana drama, however. The Hard Spun filly tracked Tasweya through early splits of 24.25, 48.07 and 1:11.78 seconds before looming boldly turning into the stretch.
Sparkle Blue made a short lead but began to drift inward under jockey Jeremy Rose. That tightened up Center Stage, who attempted to split Sparkle Blue and Tasweya.
Center Stage dropped back, Tasweya gamely re-rallied on the rail, and Sparkle Blue was in for a fight. She was up to the challenge and stayed resolute to win by a half-length in 1:42.71. Tasweya was second, another half-length ahead of Lay the Groundwork. Then came Shad Nation, Gizala, Center Stage and Saucy Lady T. Center Stage returned $32.20 to win as the longest shot in the field.
Lay the Groundwork was disqualified from third and placed last for interference against both Saucy Lady T and Gizala at the top of the stretch. Tap the Faith and Parnac scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by Parke, Sparkle Blue is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account and Grade 3 Ontario Colleen heroine Colonial Flag. She won two of four starts last year and has now earned $142,700.