Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stables' Battle Bling tops a field of six in the $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park June 8. The 1 1/16-mile affair is the local prep for the filly and mare summer classic—the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap (G2) July 9.
In her most recent race, Battle Bling finished fourth May 6 in the 1 1/16-mile, $750,000 La Troienne Stakes Presented by Signify Health (G1) at Churchill Downs. Prior to that, the 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver made four starts at Aqueduct. The Kentucky-bred trained by Rob Atras finished second in the 1 1/8-mile, $100,000 Top Flight Invitational Stakes April 10, second in the mile, $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes March 6, won the 1 1/8-mile, $100,000 Ladies Stakes Jan. 16, and second in an allowance optional claiming race where she was claimed for $62,500 on Dec. 19. She has a career record of 3-6-1 from 16 starts with earnings of $285,617.
"She is doing good," Atras said. "She came out of her last race in pretty good shape. We were not sure which direction we were going to go for her next race, but after her last work, we decided on the Obeah. We will certainly consider the Delaware Handicap with a good showing. She is the kind of filly who gets better the longer she goes, so if she handles the track and everything else goes good, the Del Cap is on the radar."
Goodwood Racing's Flight to Shanghai will have the home-field advantage. The 4-year-old daughter of Shanghai Bobby is stabled at Delaware Park in the barn of trainer Jane Cibelli.
In her most recent outing, Flight to Shanghai ran third in the mile-and-70-yard, $106,000 Serena's Song at Monmouth Park May 8. In her only other outing this year, she was unplaced in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park April 16. Last year, she posted a pair of Delaware Park allowance level victories. She has a career record of 3-3-2 from 12 starts with earnings of $129,760.
"She could not be doing better," Cibelli said. "She came out of the stakes at Monmouth great and she has been training nicely since. Two of her three career victories have been over this track, so we are looking forward to this stakes over our home track. The reason for running in the Obeah is because we do have the Delaware Handicap in our plans, but she will need a solid effort in the Obeah for us to consider that next step."
The field is completed with stakes-placed Moma Tiger, multiple-stakes winner Miss Leslie, Hybrid Eclipse, and Pettigo Girl.
Entries: Obeah S.
Delaware Park, Wednesday, June 8, 2022, Race 6
- STK
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $150,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 3:00 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Flight to Shanghai (KY) | Victor R. Carrasco | 119 | Jane Cibelli | 5/1 |
| 2 | 2Moma Tiger (FL) | Julio A. Hernandez | 119 | Flint W. Stites | 8/1 |
| 3 | 3Hybrid Eclipse (KY) | Jevian Toledo | 119 | Brittany T. Russell | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4Miss Leslie (KY) | Angel Cruz | 123 | Claudio A. Gonzalez | 8/5 |
| 5 | 5Pettigo Girl (KY) | Raul E. Mena | 119 | Gary C. Contessa | 12/1 |
| 6 | 6Battle Bling (KY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 119 | Rob Atras | 3/2 |
