Walking in the middle of the nightwon her first ranked bet on July 2 in the $295,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) prize at Delaware Parkkeep 5-2 favorites Hottie Shotgun with a head.
Out of the gate with ease, the stout 3-year-old settled into the middle of a field of seven horses and stalked the original leaders Chardonnay and No mistakes on Thursday. Making her move at the three-quarter mark, she flew forward before Shotgun Hottie made her move. Rushing from the outside to challenge the leader, Shotgun Hottie ran into the winner’s margin, but couldn’t finish in time.
The runner-up got to the finish line four stages ahead Morning matcha in part three.
After racing at speeds following fractions: 23.10, :46.69, 1: 11.13, Midnight Stroll completed the 1/16-mile run in 1:44.31 under Eric Cancel’s lead on a fast track.
“I feel very confident about her chances today because I worked with her last time and she did a great job,” Cancel said. “Her best two races took the lead and a bit more pace today, but I’m glad I was able to show her off because I got to know her a little better and I got a ride great with her.”
MIDNIGHT STROLL is a G3 Delaware Oaks winner! Congratulations to all the connections! Race number 7, the next Kent Stakes! Clock @DelParkRacing in https://t.co/nBYFHj6ufh pic.twitter.com/7dvHcKJer6
– TVG (@TVG) July 2, 2022
Coached by John Terranova, Midnight Stroll paid $7.20 for a $2 winning ticket and increased her earnings to $263,225.
Delaware Oaks is this girl’s sixth start and third win. She won her first win in February in the special girlhood weight class Tampa Bay Downs and followed that up with a March 27 victory at Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes at the Florida track.
Finally, the daughter of Not this time ninth in George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico racetrack.
Owned by Gatsas Stables, RA Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld, Midnight Stroll ran out of stock on its first trip to the sales facility at Ocala Breeders’ 2020 Winter Mixed Sale. It then went on sale at the company’s October Sale, purchased by dealer Tonja Terranova for $225,000 from Abbie Road Farm consignment.
Bred in Florida by Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg, Midnight Stroll is out Midnight Lute mare Midnight magic , who has two winners from two warm-ups. Damn 2 years old Realistic jokes full name is Atthecrossroad, who was bought $230,000 by Breeze Easy from Baccari Bloodstock consignment at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale in 2021, and a yearning Realistic jokes pony. She also has 2022 Mitole pony.
Video: Delaware Oaks (G3)
The main event center stage in Kent
Giving Cancel his second straight win Saturday in Delaware was Major Events who showed off his turf to win $200,250 Kent Stakes (G3T).
Main Event Connections after winning a Class III Kent Stake at @DelParkRacing today. It was driver Eric Cancel winning second place of the day as he had won the previous Delaware Oaks Level III race. pic.twitter.com/gGgkQqVss5
– Delaware Park (@DelParkRacing) July 2, 2022
The Main Event directly goes to the front of the herd of seven striding forward Time Xy and Uncle Irish . Setting pace as he goes, the 3-year-old pony refuses pressure from his rivals and maintains the lead. Entering the ramp, he runs to the track and opens it up, this will counter the late bid from the runner-up. Elizar .
“I had a dream ride. I wanted to be in front with this horse because his best races were in the lead or really close. I know the race has a lot of pace, but I know you. My horses are very playful. I gave it to them early,” Cancel said.
“If they were going to hit me, they’d have to hit me running. When I started to turn at the third of eighths, I felt I still had a lot of horses so I let him go to make him more comfortable. By quarters. He’s still as steady as he’s waiting for a horse, so I’m just trying to give him a confident ride to the end.”
Main Event Wins Kent Stakes at Delaware Park
With the odds: 23.65, 47.12, 1:11.05 and 1:36.23, the Main Event overcomes the 1:48.74 scale limit in a 1 1/8 sure field. miles for owners of Harrel Ventures.
Elizar is second and Tommy Bee third.
Main Event paid $10.60 to win and increased its earnings to $246,333.
Trained by George Weaver, the foal soon found success at Gulfstream Park this season, breaking his maidenhood in January and finishing second in his next warm-up in the March 5 Palm Beach Stakes. The pony won his next outing. Followed at the Cutler Bay Stakes April 2. Moving to the classifieds holdings, the foal’s final start ended in 9th place in the May 7 American Turf Stakes tournament hosted by BMW (G2T) presented at Churchill Downs.
The son of Bernardini is a $50,000 aspirant who came to Cromwell Bloodstock from a Threave Main Stud shipment at the 2020 Keeneland Sale September. He was resold at Ocala Breeders’ Spring 2021 Sale’s Sale. two-year-old being trained for $130,000 to agent Steven Young from the Ocala Stud shipment.
The mare in the song of Out of the Unbridled Total Knockout , Main Event was bred by Godolphin and Eric and Elizabeth Buckley in Kentucky. The pony’s dam has five winners from five ponies to begin with. Her last reported pony is a 2 year old Mor Spirit pony.
Video: Kent S. (G3T)
