Luv Your Neighbor finally got her long-awaited graded stakes glory June 13 with a triumph in the $295,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park.
Under jockey Luis Saez, the 3-year-old daughter of Constitution raced midpack off leader Dazzling Dame, who carved out fractions of :23.76, :47.82, and 1:12.00. The Michael Stidham trainee continued to race comfortably down the backstretch, came under pressure to gain on the leaders approaching the turn, and hit the front as the field hit the stretch. She battled outside of Dazzling Dame and Jumping the Gun, and pulled away from her rivals in deep stretch, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths. Jumping the Gun finished second, and post-time favorite Dazzling Dame wrapped up third. Pashmina, the third choice in the wagering, raced in fourth early but was a nonfactor and faded to fifth.
Luv Your Neighbor completed the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:44.05 on a fast main track, and paid $6.80 for a $2 wager as the second betting choice.
Prior to the Delaware Oaks, Lael Stables' Luv Your Neighbor had placed second in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), and third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). The Ontario-bred was purchased for $350,000 by her owners at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Video: Delaware Oaks (G3)
Big Cuddle Lands Delaware Derby
In the $300,000 Delaware Derby, Big Cuddle drew off in the stretch to get the win.
The Gary Capuano trainee broke slowly and settled midpack under usual rider Yedsit Hazlewood. He rated off pacesetter Ponder and Dream, who posted an opening quarter of :24.30. The 3-year-old son of Great Notion continued to travel under a tight hold down the backstretch through a half in :48.29, and made his move for the lead as he approached the turn. Big Cuddle took the lead and opened up by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to the wire. Out of the Woods made an attempt for the lead on the rail, but he was no match for Big Cuddle, who hit the wire 4 lengths the best. Out of the Woods held second and Sovereign Law, who was well back in the early stages of the race, finished third.
Big Cuddle completed the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:44.27 and paid $4.60 to win as the post-time favorite, after the scratch of Bob Baffert's Litmus Test, who instead is expected to run in the Affirmed Stakes June 15 at Santa Anita Park.
Owned by Pocket 3's Racing, Big Cuddle improved his record to four wins from five lifetime starts and earned his second stakes victory in a row.
