The Meadows: L A Delight strikes in the Lightning Lane in Nadia Lobell

L A Delight, Canada's top 2-year-old pacing filly last year and the Ontario Sires Stakes leader in the 3-year-old filly pace group this year, posted her first win in the United States on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows when she captured the $140,000 Nadia Lobell in a lifetime-best 1:49 1/5.

With Dave Palone handling the driving, L A Delight battled with I Said Diamonds (Jim Pantaleano) early, but then yielded for the pocket position before the 26 2/5 opening quarter. I Said Diamonds would continue to front the field through a half in 54 2/5 and a three-quarters in 1:22, with first-over Kiss Me Onthebeach (John Campbell) only able to get within a length and a half of the pacesetter in the backstretch.

In the stretch Palone guided L A Delight to the inside of I Said Diamonds, and L A Delight out-sprinted her through the drive to win by half a length. Yankee Moonshine (Yannick Gingras) was up for third as the 35-1 outsider, followed by Kiss Me Onthebeach and Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron), the 2-1 third choice who broke before the start.

“I’ve driven a lot of good fillies, won a couple Jugettes, but this filly ranks right up there,” Palone said. “She’s so handy she makes your job easy.”

L A Delight, a daughter of Bettor's Delight, is a homebred for trainer/co-owner Bob McIntosh and his partners Al McIntosh Holdings and C S X Stables. This was her 17th win from 22 career attempts, and she has now earned $830,833. The 7-5 favorite, L A Delight paid $4.80 to win.

--quote courtesy of The Meadows--