Shane's Girlfriend romps in Delta Princess
VINTON, La. - The decision the connections of Shane’s Girlfriend made to supplement the 2-year-old filly to the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess looked like a genius move before the race was even over on Saturday.
Shane’s Girlfriend was always prominent in the mile race, and then opened up on the field in the stretch for a 13 1/4-length victory. She covered the distance in a stakes-record time of 1:37.98, eclipsing the mark of 1:38.71 set by Four Gifts in 2008.
Cajun Delta Dawn finished second, while it was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Flatter Up. The first four finishers in the race earned Kentucky Oaks eligibility points on a sliding scale of 10-4-2-1. The fourth-place finisher was Chanel’s Legacy.
Shane’s Girlfriend ($8.80) improved her record to 2 for 2 in the Princess following an impressive debut win in a maiden special weight sprint Oct. 28 at Santa Anita. She was a $4,500 supplement to the Princess when pre-entries closed a few days later, on Nov. 1.
Shane’s Girlfriend on Saturday sat a length off pacesetter Flatter Up through an opening quarter-mile in 23.06 seconds and a half-mile in 47.16. She overtook that one through six furlongs in 1:11.17 and increased her advantage with every stride. Flavien Prat was aboard for Doug O’Neill, who trains the horse for his brother, Dennis, as well as ERJ Racing and W.C. Racing.
“She's a filly that's acted like two turns won't be a problem,” Doug O'Neill said. “You never know until you try it.”
Dennis O’Neill was pleased with the win from Shane’s Girlfriend, who is named for his 13-year-old son, Shane. She was a $95,000 purchase during a 2-year-olds in training auction put on by the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company. Shane’s Girlfriend won her debut by more than five lengths, while covering six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.40.
“She had worked like a really good filly all along,” Dennis O’Neill said after the Princess. “She’s nice and she’ll keep going. She’s just really, really classy.”
Erik Johnson of ERJ Racing watched the Princess on his phone in a hotel room as the all-star defenseman for the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche had a game in Minnesota on Saturday. The filly gave him his first graded stakes win. He said he has been an owner for three years.
“This past year was my biggest buying 2-year-olds,” he said. “I bought one to two the first two years. This year I bought 10. Dennis picks out my 2-year-olds. He has a great eye for value horses. Thanks to him and W.C. Racing for letting me partner.”
Shane’s Girlfriend is by Adios Charlie, a son of Indian Charlie. She earned $240,000 for her win in the Princess. The remaining order of finish in the race was Forest Circle in fifth, followed by San Antonio Stroll, Golden Mischief, Jilly, Dude Fantasy, and Caroline Test.