Grace Hall Looks Strong in Delaware Oaks

Trainer Anthony Dutrow seems to have the $400,000 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) surrounded. Dutrow conditions three of the seven 3-year-old fillies in the field for the 1 1/16-mile test July 14 at Delaware Park, including the highweight, Grace Hall.

Grace Hall is by far the most accomplished runner in the Delaware Oaks this year. The Empire Maker filly has never run worse than third in her seven lifetime starts, and tipped her hand last year when winning the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) in her second start. Grace Hall ran second in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) to finish the 2011 season, and has come back to take the Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) and run third in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Grace Hall will be spotting her foes from four to six pounds in the Delaware Oaks. She has earned $900,000 at the races.

Coupled in the wagering with Grace Hall will be Singlet, also trained by Dutrow and co-owned by Michael Dubb. Dubb co-owns Grace Hall with Bethlehem Stables and The Elkstone Group, while Larry Brafman and Daniel Ryan co-own Singlet with Dubb. Singlet, by Real Quiet, won both the Dearly Precious Stakes and the Xtra Heat Stakes at Aqueduct this year before rolling a pair of fourths in the Comely Stakes (gr. III) and the Just Smashing Stakes in her most recent starts. Singlet has won four of seven in her career for $184,644.