Sweet Hope wires Delaware stakes

Sent straight to the lead by jockey Jeremy Rose, Sweet Hope stayed in front throughout Monday's $60,650 Beautiful Day Stakes at Delaware Park, winning by three lengths. Puskita, who had chased the front-runner the whole way, was a clear second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place My Heavenly Sign.

Sweet Hope, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, was making her first start for trainer Larry Jones and her third start in the United States after beginning her racing career with 1 victory in 6 starts in England.

Sweet Hope finished the six furlongs of the Beautiful Day in 1:09.47 on a fast track and paid $4.20 as part of the favored Jones-trained entry with My Heavenly Sign in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.