Project Whiskey pulls $79.60 stunner in Delaware Oaks

Project Whiskey never had raced around two turns, never had started in a graded stakes race, and at nearly 39-1 was the longest shot in the Grade 3, $200,000 Delaware Oaks on Saturday at Delaware Park – but she didn’t run like it.

Fending off a sustained challenge from Dream Marie, Project Whiskey posted a major upset in the Delaware Oaks, winning by a half-length and paying $79.60.

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Dream Marie, who made a quick four-wide move at the seven-sixteenths pole, was a 9-1 shot who had 1 1/4 lengths on 15-1 Princess Cadey, who completed a trifecta that paid more than $1,200 for a 50-cent wager.

Piece of My Heart, the 9-5 favorite, gave way after setting splits of 23.32, 47.28, and 1:11.99, though she did hold on for fourth. Hopeful Growth, the 5-2 second choice, was fifth, and Comical, the 4-1 third choice, finished sixth.

Project Whiskey also lost ground on both turns, pressing the pace under Frankie Pennington. Pennington might’ve preferred waiting before asking Project Whiskey for run, but Dream Marie’s early bid forced his hand and the two fillies dueled through the final quarter-mile. Project Whiskey and Pennington, on the inside of the pair, persevered in a game performance. Project Whiskey was timed in 1:44.04 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

Butch Reid trains Project Whiskey, a daughter of Tapizar and Over the Moon, by Malibu Moon, for Cash Is King and LC Racing. Maryland-bred Project Whiskey won a maiden race and a $75,000 stakes, both over seven furlongs, last fall at Parx Racing but finished her campaign with a poor performance at Laurel and was a distant sixth in her lone start at age 3 before Saturday’s shocker.