Delahaye Uses Experience for Victory in Mint Julep
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Photo: Coady Media/Renee Torbit
Delahaye wins the Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs
William Lawrence and Three Chimneys Farm's Delahaye was not to be denied her first graded victory as she stormed down the Churchill Downs stretch to win the 1 1/16-mile $249,668 Mint Julep (G3T) June 2.
With jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard, the race unfolded exactly according to plan as Delahaye broke alertly and settled while Safeen was sent from the rail with Heavenly Sunday in close pursuit.
Settling 3 1/2 lengths back in sixth, Delahaye followed slow fractions of :24.47, :49.70, and 1:14.16 over the yielding turf before being called upon by Gaffalione.
"When I called on her at the quarter pole, she really showed an extra turn of foot," Gaffalione said.
Delahaye rallied past the pacesetters to take the lead while drawing off to a 1 3/4-length win, stopping the clock in 1:45.46. Heavenly Sunday held second with Safeen third.
Delahaye paid $4.36 to win.
Entered by trainer Chad Brown in the May 4 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T), Delahaye was squeezed out of the gate before falling back further off the pace than before but still managed to rally for third. Gaffalione believes that experience made the difference this time.
"New circumstances (in her last start), she overcame it," Gaffalione said. "Today, taking that experience and putting it forward, she really improved."
Bred by Three Chimneys, Gaffalione has high hopes for the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly who is now a four-time winner from six starts with $416,715 in earnings.
"This is a filly that just keeps improving," Gaffalione said. "Sky's the limit with her."