Woodbine: Delegation eyes Durham Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Delegation was booked on a flight to Churchill Downs on Wednesday after finishing sixth in last Sunday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

After chasing Game On Dude throughout the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic, Delegation weakened in the closing yards and was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths for second money under rider Luis Contreras.

“The only way I think anybody could have beaten Game On Dude was if they let us run on the turf course and he ran on the main track,” trainer Mark Casse said.

Delegation, breaking from post 10, just inside Game On Dude, was kept well out on the track by Contreras before dropping over heading into the clubhouse turn.

“Luis did exactly what I told him to do,” Casse said. “If Game On Dude wanted to run head-and-head with us, I didn’t want him outside of us. I didn’t want to be pinned down on the rail. Our only regret was if we had not pursued Game On Dude and tried to win the race, we probably could have been second.”

Casse plans to bring Delegation back to Woodbine with an eye toward the Oct. 6 Durham Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race that offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $150,000.

Delegation, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old gelding owned by Gary Barber, was a front-running 9 1/4-length winner of the Grade 3, 1 1/4-mile Dominion Day Stakes here July 1.