St. John's River Gets Up in Delaware Oaks

St. John's River has been knocking on the door of a major stakes win all year and now she got one.

The 3-year-old daughter of Include   out of Adventerous Di, by Private Account, captured the $300,700 grade II Delaware Oaks July 9 with a dazzling stretch run that put her a head in front at the wire of pacesetter Strike the Moon.

A homebred for Kentucky breeder/owner Dede McGehee and trained by Andrew Leggio Jr., St. John’s River faced four stakes winners in the field of seven. None of the competiors had been placed in graded stakes, however, she had. St. John’s River ran second by half a length to Daisy Devine in the March 26 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) and was runner-up by a neck—rallying from last—to Plum Pretty in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Bettors acknowledged the company she had been keeping by making her the even-money favorite at post time.