Miss Leslie corrects mistake just in time to win Obeah Stakes
In the span of a quarter-mile, Miss Leslie went from looking like a winner, to looking like a loser, to winning the Obeah Stakes on Wednesday at Delaware Park.
Miss Leslie, the 2.30-1 second choice, lagged behind all five of her rivals for the first half-mile of the Obeah, a 1 1/16-mile dirt race for fillies and mares. Meanwhile, Flight to Shanghai was enjoying a clear lead through fractions of 26.59 and 51.10, stalked by Hybrid Eclipse and 4-5 favorite Battle Bling. As Flight to Shanghai began to tire on the far turn, Miss Leslie and jockey Angel Cruz were rolling on the outside, and seem poised to blow past the rest of the field.
Miss Leslie continued to gain on the outside entering the stretch, then suddenly shifted out, losing momentum. As Battle Bling spurted away, it looked as if Miss Leslie had blown her chance to win. But she managed to regather herself and caught Battle Bling in the final yards for a half-length victory in 1:47.14. Battle Bling finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Hybrid Eclipse, who was third.
The victory was the second straight for Miss Leslie, who was coming off a 4 1/4-length score in the Serena’s Song at Monmouth. A 4-year-old Paynter filly trained by Claudio Gonzalez, Miss Leslie paid $6.60 and earned $90,000 of the $150,125 race purse.
Cruz said Miss Leslie shied from his left-handed whip in the stretch.
“The pace was slow and she came with a big run,” he said. “The longer the better for her. This team really had her ready to go today.”
The Obeah is the local prep for the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 9, and Gonzalez said Miss Leslie will point for that 1 1/4-mile race if she comes out of the Obeah in good shape.