Mindy Sue prevails over Taptam at Delaware

Mindy Sue battled on the lead with Taptam for the entire 1 1/16 miles of the Winter's Melody Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday, prevailing in the final sixteenth after appearing beaten in upper stretch.

Mindy Sue alternated on the lead outside Taptam in the Winter's Melody through fractions of 24.58 seconds, 49.22, and 1:13.31. Taptam, who had finished second to Zenyatta in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in her last start, looked headed for victory after cutting the corner into the stretch, but Mindy Sue persevered under jockey Israel Ocampo and came again in deep stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Mindy Sue, the fourth betting choice in the eight-horse field, paid $13.40 and was timed in 1:45.51 over a fast track. Mindy Sue made her first three starts of the year at Oaklawn Park and entered the Winter's Melody off a neck victory in a second-level optional claiming race. A 4-year-old, she has now won 4 of her 9 career starts and $127,200 for owner Joseph Novogratz. She is trained by Mac Robertson.

"A long range goal is the Del 'Cap going a mile and a quarter," Robertson said. "She has got a lot of speed, but if you just let her gallop, she will run all day long.

"The Obeah comes back in about 30 days, so schedule-wise it makes sense, but we will see how she is doing."

Taptam, trained by Bret Calhoun, crossed the line a length ahead of third-place finisher Miss Match, the 2-1 favorite, in third.