Red Ruby much the best in winning the Delaware Oaks

Sandra Sexton and Brandi Nicholson’s Red Ruby cruised to an easy victory in the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park today.

With Paco Lopez aboard, the daughter of Tiznow won by 13-lengths and returned $3.20 as the favorite in the field of eight. Coach Rocks with Rajiv Maragh, finished second. It was 8-lengths farther back to Mo Shopping, with Mario Pino, in third. Red Ruby ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42.41 over fast main track.

The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Kellyn Gorder raised her career record to four wins from six starts with earnings of $438,000. In her previous outing, she posted a 4 ¾-length victory in the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico on May 18th.

Gorder had no concerns with her handling the track and he will most likely run her next in the mile and a quarter Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 18th.

“I think we came into this race pretty confident,” said trainer Kellyn Gorder. “We came in four days before the race. We jogged her the first day and galloped her the next couple of days. She was great on the racetrack, so I was not concerned about her not handling the track.  She was a little antsy before the race. She is not a nervous type, but she is the kind that just wants to get it on. She is not the kind that likes to wait around in the post parade and other the stuff. Once she got in the gate, she was fine. She broke well and I figured she would be forwardly placed today. The Alabama has been our target and the farther she goes the better.”

Jon Marshal’s Tricky Escape won the $208,100 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park today. 

With Christopher DeCarlo aboard, the 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick won by a 1 1/2-lengths and returned $10.40. Giovanna Blues, with Mario Pino, finished second. It was another length farther back to Palinodie, with Trevor McCarthy, in third. The 8-to-5 favorite in the field of nine, Creative Thinking, with Adam Beschizza, finished fifth.

Broken Bridle, with Alex Cintron, cut early fractions of :49.04 for the half mile, 1:14.23 for the three-quarters mile, and 1:37.39 for the mile before fading to fourth. The final time for the mile and three-eighths over a firm turf course was 2:12.82.

This was the first victory of the year for Tricky Escape from three outings. The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Lynn Ashby raised her record to five wins from 17 starts with earnings of $448,400.

“I was happy she was able to lay close because everything that has gone to the front today has kind of stayed there,” said winning trainer Lynn Ashby. “The race set up well for us because she has a wonderful turn of foot and the farther the better with her. We are still not exactly sure where we will go next with her, but we are considering going to Saratoga with her.”