Fortune Pearl Seeks Obeah Rebound

Lukewarm favorite off a poor effort last time out, RMJ Stables' 2014 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) winner Fortune Pearl hopes to return to the winner's circle at the Mid-Atlantic track in the $100,000 Obeah Stakes (gr. III) June 20 at Delaware Park.

After bobbling at the break and bumping with a rival early, the 4-year-old Mineshaft   filly finished seventh for trainer Graham Motion in the May 15 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course. In 2014 she won the 1 1/16-mile Delaware Oaks by two lengths over the John Servis-trained Joint Return, who also tackles the 1 1/8-mile Obeah and was third in the Allaire DuPont after racing rank early.

Fortune Pearl leaves post 3 with Trevor McCarthy in the irons under a 120-pound impost. Main Line Racing Stable's Joint Return, who last year after missing the Delaware Oaks ran second in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) in which Fortune Pearl was fourth, will leave the 9 hole under 118 pounds including Kendrick Carmouche. 

Ben and Mary Jo Colebrook's homebred Sea Shadow was a convincing winner of the May 20 Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware, and now the 4-year-old daughter of Jump Start   looks to earn her first graded win against 10 others.

Pennsylvania-bred Sea Shadow won the 1 1/16-mile Winter Melody by 4 3/4 lengths at odds of 15-1, closing with a strong late run. She appears to be in deep in the Obeah, taking on fillies who have tried the graded ranks before, but could be on the improve while others look to rebound from dismal efforts last time out. She was fifth behind Yahilwa in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) in her lone graded outing. Anthony Stephen rides from the outside as part of a 120-pound assignment at morning-line odds of 12-1.

Castleton Lyons' Montana Native is one such runner, winner of the 2014 edition of the Winter Melody and runner-up in last year's edition of the Obeah. The 5-year-old mare, by Yes It's True  , made her first start off a layup May 24 and finished eighth and last of all in the Monmouth Beach Stakes at Monmouth Park. Her prior start was a third in the Sept. 7 Sky Beauty Stakes in 2014 at Belmont Park. Alex Cintron will see if he can get the Christophe Clement trainee back to last summer's form from post 7 as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line.

Susan Knoll's homebred Blue Violet, fourth in the Allaire DuPont for trainer Larry Jones last out, is another of interest. The 5-year-old Curlin   runner was seventh in the 2014 Obeah but does have an allowance win from last year over the track.