Delaware Park Stakes Sept. 6th & 7th
9/11/2008

Delaware Park showcases  two , Grade 2 Stakes races for 3 year olds.

articles by Stephanie Corum

Dr Sam Harrison Juvenile (G2) 

There were two standouts at the $25,000 Dr. Sam Harrison Juvenile Fillies (G2). Dixies Valentine was noticeably absent. Tropical Storm Hanna was noticeably present. Significant rainfall put a damper on Owner’s Day, one of Delaware Park’s biggest days of racing, but horses and jockeys braved the elements and carried out a full card. The Arabians had the 13th and last race of the day and nine fillies started over the sealed, sloppy track.

Guy Neiven’s Sabka and Pam Weidel’s Burnie Gee PW both broke well and Sabka took an early lead. Burnie Gee PW was right there followed by Burning Perfume MKP and Later Ala Gatour.
Later Ala Gatour started her advance entering the far turn and soon she and Burnie Gee PW were battling head to head. Burnie Gee PW went very wide through the turn and carried Later Ala Gatour with her. Jockey William Hollick angled Later Ala Gatour to the inside, but could not get to the front. Burnie Gee PW, clear of her rival, drifted back in and crossed the finish line first by 7 ½ lengths. However, for her interference in the turn, she was disqualified and placed second behind Later Ala Gatour. Ashton Rose, owned by Dianne Waldron, made a mild rally for third. The top three were followed by Areethmatik, A Second Wind, Samsarah, Burning Perfume MKP, Sabka and Profilin. The final time for the 1-mile was 1:54.21.

Alec Courtelis Juvenile (G2)

Instead of taking on the fillies in the slop, Bill Waldron decided to put his sensational 3-year-old filly Dixies Valentine up against the boys for the first time in the $25,000 Alec Courtelis Juvenile (G2). The filly’s last start was just 6 days prior, and it was her first defeat. She finished sixth in an allowance race over a turf course rated good.
Back on the dirt, and on a fast track, Dixies Valentine broke from the far outside (post 9) in the 1 mile contest.  Jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. used Dixies Valentine’s natural speed to clear the field, cross over in front and get the lead. She opened an easy lead over Zanthus Fury, Tiki Barber and Theoretically who ran as a group. Coming into the turn longshot  Zanthus Fury tired, but Tiki Barber, owned by Cre Run Enterprises LLC and Theoretically, owned by Oakcrest Farms LLC, ran together. Through the stretch, it was obvious that Dixies Valentine was a winner. Theoretically made his move on the outside and put away Tiki Barber. Wrapped up at the end, Dixies Valentine won by an easy 8 lengths in a time of 1:50.33. Theoretically proved himself the best of the 3-year-old colts finishing second by 17 lengths over Tiki Barber, Status Symboll, Qjuick Sand PW, Zanthus Fury, Ima Lucky Thirteen, Citaal and Chanses.