It Tiz Well Ships East to Win Delaware Oaks

California invader It Tiz Well, owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, won the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks today.

With Drayden Van Dyke aboard, the daughter of Arch notched a half-length and returned $3.60 as the favorite in the field of six.  Proud and Fearless, with Brian Pedroza, cut early fractions of :48.22 for a half mile and 1:11.87 for the three-quarters mile, before finishing second a head in front of Actress, with Nik Juarez, in third.  The final time for the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track was 1:43.55.

It Tiz Well raised her career mark to four wins from eight starts with earnings $466,840.  The Delaware Oaks was the second career stake victory for the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.  She won the Grade III Honeybee at Oaklawn Park on March 11.

Winning rider Drayden Van Dyke felt good about It Tiz Well the entire trip.

“She broke sharp and to be honest, she put us in a perfect spot, just off the lead,” said winning rider Drayden Van Dyke.  “The two horse (Proud and Fearless) was going nice and easy with her ears pricked, so I did not want her to get to far away from me.  But my horse was nice and relaxed the whole way and she kicked home very well.”

This is the second career Delaware Oaks win for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who also won the race in 2011 with Blind Luck.

Source: Delaware Park