Delaware Handicap

Delaware Handicap
Grade 2 race
LocationDelaware Park Racetrack
Wilmington, Delaware,
United States
Inaugurated1937
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Websitewww.delawarepark.com
Race information
Distance1+316 Miles (9+12 Furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFillies, Three-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
PurseUS$500,000[1]

The Delaware Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Wilmington, Delaware. The Grade 2 race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one mile and three-sixteenths on the dirt.

The race was inaugurated as the New Castle Handicap as part of the racing schedule with the 1937 opening of Delaware Park Racetrack. In 1953, the new $100,000 purse offered by the New Castle Handicap made it the richest race in the world for fillies and mares.[2] In 1955 it was renamed the Delaware Handicap.

The race was held at Saratoga from 1982 until 1985.

In 2017, champion filly Songbird won as the shortest-priced favorite in the race's history at 1-9 odds.[3]

In 2023, Delaware Park management announced that the race would be shortened to 1+316 miles, citing difficulties in attracting top fillies and mares to run the 1+14-mile distance.[4]

In 1939, Shangay Lily won the race as a seven year old, and is the oldest winner of the race.

Records

[edit]

Speed record:

  • 1:59.80 – Coup de Fusil (1987) (At former distance of 1+14 miles)

Most wins by a horse

  • 2 – Endine (1958, 1959)
  • 2 – Obeah (1969, 1970)
  • 2 – Blessing Angelica (1971, 1972)
  • 2 – Susan's Girl (1973, 1975)
  • 2 – Nastique (1988, 1989)
  • 2 – Royal Delta (2012, 2013)
  • 2 – Elate (2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

[edit]
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time Gr.
2024 Honor D Lady 4 José Ortiz Saffie Joseph, Jr. Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stables, LLC 1-3/16 m 1:59.86 G2
2023 Idiomatic 4 Florent Geroux Brad Cox Juddmonte 1-3/16 m 1:56.41 G2
2022 Miss Leslie 4 Angel Cruz Claudio A. Gon BB Horses 1-1/4 m 2:04.50 G2
2021 Miss Marissa 4 Daniel Centeno James Ryerson Cammarota Racing LLC 1-1/4 m 2:04.50 G2
2020 Dunbar Road 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad Brown Peter M. Brant 1-1/8 m 1:49.02 G2
2019 Elate 5 José Ortiz William I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 1-1/4 m 2:02.51 G2
2018 Elate 4 José Ortiz William I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 1-1/4 m 2:04.83 G2
2017 Songbird 4 Mike Smith Jerry Hollendorfer Fox Hill Farms Inc. (Rick Porter) 1-1/4 m 2:03.96 G1
2016 I'm a Chatterbox 4 Florent Geroux J. Larry Jones Fletcher & Carolyn Gray 1-1/4 m 2:02.64 G1
2015 Sheer Drama 5 Joe Bravo David Fawkes Harold L. Queen 1-1/4 m 2:01.58 G1
2014 Belle Gallantey 5 José Ortiz Rudy R. Rodriguez Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC (Michael Caruso), Gary Aisquith 1-1/4 m 2:01.15 G1
2013 Royal Delta 5 Mike Smith William I. Mott Besilu Stables 1-1/4 m 2:02.04 G1
2012 Royal Delta 4 Mike Smith William I. Mott Besilu Stables 1-1/4 m 2:03.51 G2
2011 Blind Luck 4 Garrett Gomez Jerry Hollendorfer Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, Jerry Hollendorfer 1-1/4 m 2:01.28 G2
2010 Life at Ten 5 John R. Velazquez Todd Pletcher Candy DeBartolo 1-1/4 m 2:03.21 G2
2009 Swift Temper 5 Alan Garcia Dale L. Romans Mark H. Stanley 1-1/4 m 2:03.41 G2
2008 Hystericalady 5 Garrett Gomez Jerry Hollendorfer Rancho San Miguel et al. 1-1/4 m 2:02.37 G2
2007 Unbridled Belle 4 Ramon Domínguez Todd A. Pletcher Team Valor Stables LLC 1-1/4 m 2:01.16 G2
2006 Fleet Indian 5 José A. Santos Todd A. Pletcher Paul H. Saylor 1-1/4 m 2:02.08 G2
2005 Island Sand 4 Jerry D. Bailey J. Larry Jones B. A. Man Stable (James Osborne) 1-1/4 m 2:02.89 G2
2004 Summer Wind Dancer 4 Victor Espinoza Jeff Mullins Richard & Yvette Wira, Linda Vetter 1-1/4 m 2:03.63 G2
2003 Wild Spirit 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Sumaya U.S. Stables (Oussama Aboughazale) 1-1/4 m 2:02.95 G2
2002 Summer Colony 4 John R. Velazquez Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 1-1/4 m 2:04.52 G3
2001 Irving's Baby 4 Ramon Domínguez Todd A. Pletcher Anstu Stables, Inc. 1-1/4 m 2:05.21 G3
2000 Lu Ravi 5 Pat Day Carl E. Bowman Yoshio Fujita 1-1/4 m 2:02.21 G3
1999 Tap to Music 4 Pat Day Joseph Orseno Stronach Stables 1-1/4 m 2:02.15 G3
1998 Amarillo 4 Julie Krone John H. Forbes Phantom House Farm (racing partnership, John Forbes, Jr. director) 1-1/4 m 2:04.20 G3
1997 Power Play 5 Larry Reynolds H. Graham Motion Robert A. Leonard 1-1/4 m 2:03.40 G3
1996 Urbane 4 Alex Solis Randy K. Bradshaw Samantha Siegel 1-1/4 m 2:01.80 G3
1995 Night Fax 4 Jeff Carle William H. Turner Jr. Audley Farm Stable 1-1/4 m 2:02.80 G2
1994 With A Wink 4 Richard Migliore D. Wayne Lukas Melvin Hatley 1-1/4 m 2:03.20 G2
1993 Green Darlin 4 Mike Luzzi Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender 1-1/4 m 2:03.60 G2
1992 Brilliant Brass 5 Edgar Prado Carlos A. Garcia Elaine L. Bassford 1-1/4 m 2:03.00 G2
1991 Crowned 4 Rick Wilson Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Bohemia Stable 1-1/4 m 2:04.00 G2
1990 Seattle Dawn 4 Robert Colton Michael Dickinson Dinwiddie Farm (Stewart Bainum) 1-1/4 m 2:03.00 G2
1989 Nastique 5 Eddie Maple Stephen L. DiMauro Chaus Stable (Bernard Chaus) 1-1/4 m 2:01.20 G1
1988 Nastique 4 Eddie Maple Stephen L. DiMauro Chaus Stable (Bernard Chaus) 1-1/4 m 2:07.60 G1
1987 Coup de Fusil 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. Jan H. Nerud Tartan Stable 1-1/4 m 1:59.80 G1
1986 Shocker T. 4 Gene St. Leon George Gianos Thomasina Caporella 1-1/4 m 2:02.20 G1
1985 Basie 4 Jean Cruguet Flint S. Schulhofer Frances A. Genter 1-1/4 m 2:02.00 G1
1984 Adored 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Laz Barrera Ethel D. Jacobs 1-1/4 m 2:03.20 G1
1983 May Day Eighty 4 Jacinto Vásquez David A. Whiteley Calumet Farm 1-1/4 m 2:03.20 G1
1982 Jameela 6 Jack Kaenel Hyman Ravich Peter M. Brant 1-1/4 m 2:02.60 G1
1981 Relaxing 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Sr. Ogden Phipps 1-1/4 m 2:01.00 G1
1980 Heavenly Ade 4 Jerry D. Bailey Mary Edens Adele W. Paxson 1-1/4 m 2:00.00 G1
1979 Likely Exchange 5 Mark S. Sellers Thomas H. Stevens G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1-1/4 m 2:03.40 G1
1978 Late Bloomer 4 Jorge Velásquez John M. Gaver Jr. Greentree Stable 1-1/4 m 2:02.20 G1
1977 Our Mims 3 Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1-1/4 m 2:01.00 G1
1976 Optimistic Gal 3 Eddie Maple LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 1-1/4 m 2:01.00 G1
1975 Susan's Girl 6 Ray Broussard Ross Finstermaker Fred W. Hooper 1-1/4 m 2:01.80 G1
1974 Krislin 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. Stephen A. DiMauro Harold I. Snyder 1-1/4 m 2:01.60 G1
1973 Susan's Girl 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper 1-1/4 m 2:01.80 G1
1972 Blessing Angelica 4 Eddie Belmonte H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1-1/4 m 2:00.60
1971 Blessing Angelica 3 Jacinto Vásquez H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1-1/4 m 2:03.40
1970 Obeah 5 Leroy Moyers Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1-1/4 m 2:02.60
1969 Obeah 4 John L. Rotz Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1-1/4 m 2:04.20
1968 Politely 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. George M. Baker Bohemia Stable 1-1/4 m 2:02.80
1967 Straight Deal II 5 Bobby Ussery Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1-1/4 m 2:02.20
1966 Open Fire 5 Frank Lovato Virgil W. Raines Brandywine Stable 1-1/4 m 2:00.40
1965 Steeple Jill 4 John Ruane Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1-1/4 m 2:02.80
1964 Old Hat 5 Buck Thornburg Charles C. Norman Stanley Conrad 1-1/4 m 2:04.00
1963 Waltz Song 5 Sheridan Mellon Thomas F. White Thomas F. White 1-1/4 m 2:04.00
1962 Seven Thirty 4 Larry Adams Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1-1/4 m 2:02.60
1961 Airmans Guide 4 Howard Grant Bert B. Williams Hugh A. Grant 1-1/4 m 2:02.40
1960 Quill 4 Bobby Ussery Lucien Laurin Reginald N. Webster 1-1/4 m 2:02.40
1959 Endine 5 Paul J. Bailey Henry S. Clark Christiana Stable 1-1/4 m 2:03.60
1958 Endine 4 Eldon Nelson Henry S. Clark Christiana Stable 1-1/4 m 2:03.00
1957 Princess Turia 4 Bill Hartack Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/4 m 2:05.00
1956 Flower Bowl 4 Logan Batcheller Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1-1/4 m 2:03.00
1955 Parlo 4 Eric Guerin Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farms 1-1/4 m 2:02.40
1954 Gainsboro Girl 4 Augustine Catalano Walter D. Carroll Shawmut Farm (Richard A. Jenks) 1-1/4 m 2:02.60
1953 Grecian Queen 3 Ted Atkinson James P. Conway Florence Whitaker 1-1/4 m 2:02.80
1952 Kiss Me Kate 4 Ronnie Nash Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords 1-1/4 m 2:02.60
1951 Busanda 4 Eric Guerin Bart Sweeny Ogden Phipps 1-1/4 m 2:04.60
1950 Adile 4 John Gilbert Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords 1-1/16 m 1:44.60
1949 Allie's Pal 4 Robert J. Martin Morrie Sidell Samuel D. Sidell 1-1/16 m 1:46.40
1948 Miss Grillo 6 Ira Hanford Horatio Luro Mill River Stable 1-1/16 m 1:49.00
1947 Elpis 5 Arthur F. Skelton Larney Hansman William G. Helis 1-1/16 m 1:46.60
1946 Bridal Flower 3 Abelardo DeLara James W. Smith John R. Bradley 1-1/16 m 1:43.80
1945 Plucky Maud 4 Robert Permane Oleg Dubassoff Lazy F Ranch 1-1/16 m 1:42.60
1944 Everget 3 Arnold Kirkland Virgil W. Raines Brandywine Stable 1-1/16 m 1:44.80
1943 Race not held due to wartime restrictions
1942 Monida 5 Abelardo DeLara William S. Cotton Constance Morabito 1-1/16 m 1:45.60
1941 Dotted Swiss 4 Maurice Peters Max Hirsch W. Arnold Hanger 1-1/16 m 1:49.00
1940 Tedbriar 3 Jimmy Lynch John Porter Jones William H. Lipscomb 1-1/16 m 1:43.80
1939 Shangay Lily 7 Ruperto Donoso John L. Roberts William V. McGrath 1-1/16 m n/a
1938 Marica 5 Robert Dotter Howard Wells Thomas D. Taggart 1-1/16 m 1:45.60
1937 Rosenna 3 Maurice Peters Richard E. Handlen William du Pont Jr. 1-1/16 m 1:43.80

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Delaware Handicap (Gr. 2)". Equibase. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ "First To Enter Racing Classic". The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland. 1953-03-25. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  3. ^ "Songbird Holds Fast in Delaware Handicap". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  4. ^ "Delaware Handicap Shortened To 1 3/16 Miles; Track Plans 85 Live Racing Dates In 2023". paulickreport.com. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
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