Delightful Claire Eyes Graded Stakes Win in Prioress

Rigney Racing's Delightful Claire  steps up in class Aug. 30 when she takes on five other 3-year-old fillies in the six-furlong Prioress Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. 

The daughter of Thousand Words   has already made her presence known when she won a maiden special weight at Saratoga by 9 1/4 lengths Aug. 2, finishing the seven-furlong race faster than Kilwin 's victory at the same distance in the Test Stakes (G1) five races later. 

"I don't think you can ever expect them to run like that, but I was glad to see that she did," trainer Philip Bauer said. "We always thought she had a ton of ability. We were mildly disappointed that she didn't win her first time out, but she ran a great race and it looks like it was a good maiden. We think there is better ahead for her, that is why we are being bold with going right into the graded stakes."  

Delightful Claire was a $250,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale. She is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Izshelegal, making her a half sister to Carter Stakes (G2) winner Crazy Mason , who recently finished third behind Book'em Danno  in the Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 24.

She will face multiple stakes winner Long Neck Paula , who was most recently seen finishing second behind Charles Town Oaks (G3) victor Indy Bay  in the Jersey Girl Stakes June 8. The Wesley Ward trainee is looking for her first victory of 2025.

Stone Smuggler  will make her 3-year-old debut Saturday, coming off a five-furlong bullet work at Saratoga. The daughter of Honest Mischief   won the Lady Finger Stakes and the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack last winter.