Horse Racing News: Godolphin’s Wet Paint Tops Field in 87th Delaware Handicap
The 87th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Handicap will take place this Sunday, July 2nd, at Delaware Park. The 1 3/16-mile race for fillies and mares has drawn a field of eight, led by Godolphin’s Wet Paint.
Wet Paint, a 4-year-old daughter of Blame, headlines the prestigious event. In her last start, she finished third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, in the Shawnee Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 1. Prior to that, she was sixth in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 13.
“Last year, Wet Paint had a banner season, recording four wins and two seconds from eight starts, with earnings of $1,160,775. Her highlights included a victory in the CCA Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, as well as wins in the Fantasy (G3) and Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park. She also finished second in the Alabama (G1) and fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Overall, she has a career record of five wins, three seconds, and a third from 13 starts, with earnings of $1,254,925.”
Trainer Brad Cox, who saddled the filly and mare champion Idiomatic to victory in last year’s Delaware Handicap, will be seeking his second win in the prestigious event.
Challenging Wet Paint will be several talented contenders, including Morning Matcha, Intrepid Dream, and Malibu Beauty. Morning Matcha, trained by Butch Reid, finished third in last year’s Delaware Handicap and is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Bed o’ Roses Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on June 15.
Intrepid Dream and Malibu Beauty, both trained by Gary Capuano, will also be seeking their first Delaware Handicap victories. Intrepid Dream has won six of her eight career starts, with a perfect 3-for-3 record at Delaware Park. Malibu Beauty, a 6-year-old mare, has nine wins, nine seconds, and five thirds from 34 lifetime starts, with four wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 12 starts at Delaware Park.
The 87th running of the Delaware Handicap promises an exciting showdown as these talented fillies and mares compete for the prestigious Grade 2 title and the $500,000 purse. The race is scheduled as the ninth event on the card, with an approximate post time of 4:30 p.m. EDT.
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