My Impression cruises in Christiana Stakes

My Impression proved much the best over nine rivals in the $50,000 Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park on Wednesday. The Christiana, for 3-year-old fillies, was run at about 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Jose Ortiz, My Impression paid $7.40 as a slight favorite over runner-up Involuntary. McGaughey will have another top contender at Delaware Park on Saturday when he sends out Browse in the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks.

April Gaze, along the inside, and It's the Truth tried to slow down the early pace while racing on even terms but with a lot of room between them. The early splits were 23.90 and 49.04 seconds.

My Impression was unhurried early, moved up to challenge three wide nearing the far turn, took the lead from April Gaze in upper stretch, and drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Involuntary, never far back, finished willingly to best late-running Outsider Art for second by a nose.

April Gaze, who was taken outside the winner after losing the lead in upper stretch, finished fourth, beaten one length for third.

My Impression was timed over firm ground in 1:44.48, following six furlongs in 1:13.84, and a mile in 1:38.54.

My Impression is now 3 for 5 in her career, with all of her races coming on grass for her owner-breeder, Stuart Janney III. A daughter of Sky Mesa, she won an Aqueduct maiden race last November while making her second start. She then won a first-level optional-claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs in January.

In her most recent start, she finished fifth, beaten two lengths, in the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes at Belmont Park on April 24. The Memories of Silver winner, Time and Motion, came back to win the $200,000 Wonder Again at Belmont on June 5.