Miss Leslie Romps in the Slop in Delaware Handicap
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Miss Leslie wins the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park
The 85th running of the $500,125 Delaware Handicap (G2) was a romp in the slop for Miss Leslie as the 4-year-old Paynter filly left six rivals well adrift through the stretch while winning the July 9 feature by 12 lengths.
Belmont Park-based Battle Bling rallied from far back in the field to loom as a threat on the stretch turn but was not able to maintain the charge and settled for second. Tonal Vision ran evenly to finish third with Bees and Honey journeying from Churchill Downs to finish fourth.
Miss Leslie, with regular rider Angel Cruz up for trainer Claudio Gonzalez, splashed home in 2:04.50 under Angel Cruz after tracking moderate fractions over a track shimmering from standing water in spots.
"Claudio has trusted me with this filly the whole time and he really had her ready today," said Cruz. "I just cruised along with her. She just kept going. I only hit her twice and she just galloped. I looked back and I was home free. It was a nice performance and I did not expect to win like that. She was ready today."
Bred in Kentucky by Maxis Stables, Miss Leslie notched her 10th win from 22 starts. She captured her first graded stakes win and now boasts a three-race winning streak, the Delaware Handicap following on the Serena's Song at Monmouth Park May 8 and the Obeah Stakes over the Delaware strip June 8. She remains undefeated at Delaware.
"She has been doing really good and she showed how well she is doing. When she goes long, she is an even better filly," said Gonzalez.
Cruz rode with confidence, holding Miss Leslie well behind the early leaders, Hawthorne Race Course invader Let's Cruise and Bees and Honey, and alongside Tonal Vision. He held that position down the backstretch, moved up quickly on the turn, and got through between horses to take the lead turning for home.
Once in front, Miss Leslie quickly put matters to rest and Cruz was saluting with his whip as he passed the finish line.
The effort was similar to her effort in the Obeah and Gonzalez at the time said the ability to come from off the pace distinguished the filly and gave him hope she would progress.
Miss Leslie, out of the Minigun mare Zeenut , trains at Laurel Park and races for BB Horses. She was claimed for $25,000 from her third career start by her current connections in 2020 and the $300,000 winner's share of the Delaware Handicap purse bumped her career earnings up to $865,650.
Battle Bling, a 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver , finished second to Miss Leslie for the second straight race. She was just 1/2 length behind her rival in the Obeah and, before that, was fourth behind Pauline's Pearl , Shedaresthedevil, and Ava's Grace in the May 6 La Troienne Presented by Signify Health (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Tonal Vision, trained at Parx Racing, entered with two straight wins there and stepped up in class against stakes competition.
The history of the Delaware Handicap is dotted with familiar names later bestowed on important races including Miss Grillo, Busanda , Flower Bowl, and Obeah. Obeah, who won the race twice, became the dam of Go For Wand.