Jaywalk Seeks First Win of Season in Delaware Oaks

D.J. Stable and Cash is King's champion Jaywalk will receive some class relief July 6 as she seeks her first victory this year in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park. The daughter of Cross Traffic  will face six other 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile test and has been tabbed the 6-5 favorite on the morning line.

Victories in last year's Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Frizette Stakes (G1) landed Jaywalk the Eclipse Award for 2-year-old filly, but she has yet to find the winner's circle in three starts this season. She was fourth in the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), then faded from the lead to third, beaten two lengths, in the April 6 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1).

Jaywalk continued to the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), sat off the pace, and crossed the wire sixth. She came in at the start, though, and was disqualified to last of 13 for causing Positive Spirit to clip heels and fall. 

The gray/roan filly has turned in two registered works at trainer John Servis' Parx Racing base since the Oaks. She breezed a bullet five furlongs May 26, timed in :59.98, and turned in a :47.79 half-mile June 12.

"She has been doing great since the Kentucky Oaks," Servis said. "She has been training great, and she could not be better for this race. She has matured some and put on some weight, so we are excited to hopefully get her back on track."

Saturday will be Jaywalk's first start at Delaware Park since she scored her first stakes victory in the White Clay Creek Stakes last summer.

Denlea Park and Kent Spellman enter the Delaware Oaks with a serious contender in Fashion Faux Pas. The Flatter  filly, trained by Arnaud Delacour, romped in Delaware Park's June 5 Light Hearted Stakes and ran away with the one-mile-and-70-yard event by 14 1/2 lengths. Also a stakes winner at 2, Fashion Faux Pas passed her route test with flying colors last out.

"She has been training very well, and I have really been pleased with her," Delacour said. "She breezed three times since the Light Hearted. She has been sharp, and I was very impressed with those three breezes. This is the next logical spot for her.

"Her last race, she was very impressive against a little lesser company. She will be tested for sure in the Delaware Oaks, but we think she will respond positively to the challenge."

John O'Hara's Avalina is the lightest-raced filly with only four starts since debuting in February, but trainer Danny Gargan brings her in off an 8 1/4-length victory in the May 20 Parx Spring Oaks, run at one mile and 70 yards. The Tale of Ekati  filly was only a $15,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, won her first start in maiden claiming by 13 lengths, and is a head shy of a perfect record.

Entries: Delaware Oaks (G3)

Delaware Park, Saturday, July 06, 2019, Race 7

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 4:37 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gotta Be Strong (PA)	UNKNOWN	116	Jamie Ness	8/1
4	1AOur Super Freak (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	116	Jamie Ness	8/1
2	2Ujjayi (PA)	Tyler Conner	116	Erin C. McClellan	12/1
3	3Avalina (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	116	Danny Gargan	7/2
5	4Fashion Faux Pas (KY)	Daniel Centeno	116	Arnaud Delacour	5/2
6	5Jaywalk (KY)	Joe Bravo	116	John C. Servis	6/5
7	6Afleet Destiny (KY)	Anthony Salgado	116	Uriah St. Lewis	15/1