I've been blessed that even though that I've only been to one racetrack in my life (Delaware Park), there have been some great horses that I've been able to see in person. This, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite 10 horses that I saw. Please note, that I don't have photos for all of them, so there won't be any posted. Sorry! Also all of these horses participated in stakes races (granded and listed). This just makes it a little bit easier on my part. Now here is the list.
10. Bon Jovi Girl (2009): 1/2 sister to multiple champ Gio Ponti, I got to see her in both the Susan's Girl and the Delaware Oaks. She won the Susan's Girl and finished 4th in the Oaks, but no one that day was going to beat Careless Jewel. She would finish second in the Cotillion and 3rd in the Gazelle as well. Also running in the Susan's Girl that day was Payton d' Oro who won the Black Eyed Susan in her race before and Garden District who was one of the few horses to defeat Rachel Alexandra, but not be defeated by her/finish behind her.
9. Shake the Bank (2007): Yep got to see Better Talk Now's rabbit run by himself! He ran in the Caesar Rodney Stakes along with Defer and Silver Tree. Silver Tree won the race, but Shake ran awesome in defeat.
8. Utley (2012): How can I not include a horse who is named after the 2nd baseman of the Phillies. He ran in the Sussex Stakes and finished fifth. Global Power won the race, and honestly this year's field could be a good one if all of the horses who I think could show up do (I'm not going to name name's as I know I'm going to be wrong anyway).
7. Unbridled Belle (2007, 2008, 2009): The first of 3 DelCap winners on my list. I've seen her win both the DelCap in 07 and the Obeah in 09. I also saw her finish third twice in 08 and 09 in the DelCap. A wonderful filly who in a way was I think a little under appreciated as she was running at the same time as Zenyatta, Cocoa Beach and Music Note.
6. Proud Spell (2008): There are two times that I heard the Delaware crowd give a winner a huge cheer. Blind Luck and this girl. Keep in mind, she was a bit down on her luck when she won the Delaware Oaks after her big win in the KY Oaks. This was a popular win, especially since she was based at Delaware. Of course she would win the Alabama on her way to 3yo Filly Champion honors.
5. Havre de Grace (2011): What the Horse of the Year is only #5 on you're list?! Well that's because the Top 4 horses are very special. Although it was a nose defeat in the 2010 DelCap, she got just as a big cheer as Blind Luck did. In matter of fact, as my family and I where leaving the track, people where still talking about the race! This was prob the only time that I've seen that happen.
4. Tiz Miz Sue (2012): What heart does this filly have! She gave Royal Delta all that she wanted in last year's edition. It was just plain old awesome that in back to back years we got a great race. Monday was her first G1 win of her career (Ogden Phipps) and she, along with Delta is a big reason that the DelCap is a G1 race this year.
3. Blind Luck (2011): I missed the Delaware Oaks the year before being in CT, but the DelCap was the race of the year. Two longtime rivals slugging it out for the sixth time. A fantastic race! I took some photos of her and Grace, and you could tell that they where ready for battle. Also in the race that year was Life at Ten who just wasn't the same filly she was pre Breeders' Cup.
2. Royal Delta (2012): What a filly! She gave the DelCap crowd a big treat as she dug into to hold off Tiz Miz Sue. To then go win the Beldame and basically put on a front running clinic in the Ladies Classic again? Memorable! I hope she returns this year as I believe the Classic is the year end goal, but the Older Female division is pretty tough with Tiz being better and On Fire Baby as well.
1. Hard Spun (2006): I was a freshman in college when I first attended the races at Delaware Park. I remember skipping out of most of my math class to do so. My mom wasn't too happy that it was a race horse was the reason why I wanted out, but I had already done almost all my work in the class for the day and was able to get out. It was his stakes debut in the Port Penn and he romped in the mud. I will never forget that day.
10. Bon Jovi Girl (2009): 1/2 sister to multiple champ Gio Ponti, I got to see her in both the Susan's Girl and the Delaware Oaks. She won the Susan's Girl and finished 4th in the Oaks, but no one that day was going to beat Careless Jewel. She would finish second in the Cotillion and 3rd in the Gazelle as well. Also running in the Susan's Girl that day was Payton d' Oro who won the Black Eyed Susan in her race before and Garden District who was one of the few horses to defeat Rachel Alexandra, but not be defeated by her/finish behind her.
9. Shake the Bank (2007): Yep got to see Better Talk Now's rabbit run by himself! He ran in the Caesar Rodney Stakes along with Defer and Silver Tree. Silver Tree won the race, but Shake ran awesome in defeat.
8. Utley (2012): How can I not include a horse who is named after the 2nd baseman of the Phillies. He ran in the Sussex Stakes and finished fifth. Global Power won the race, and honestly this year's field could be a good one if all of the horses who I think could show up do (I'm not going to name name's as I know I'm going to be wrong anyway).
7. Unbridled Belle (2007, 2008, 2009): The first of 3 DelCap winners on my list. I've seen her win both the DelCap in 07 and the Obeah in 09. I also saw her finish third twice in 08 and 09 in the DelCap. A wonderful filly who in a way was I think a little under appreciated as she was running at the same time as Zenyatta, Cocoa Beach and Music Note.
6. Proud Spell (2008): There are two times that I heard the Delaware crowd give a winner a huge cheer. Blind Luck and this girl. Keep in mind, she was a bit down on her luck when she won the Delaware Oaks after her big win in the KY Oaks. This was a popular win, especially since she was based at Delaware. Of course she would win the Alabama on her way to 3yo Filly Champion honors.
5. Havre de Grace (2011): What the Horse of the Year is only #5 on you're list?! Well that's because the Top 4 horses are very special. Although it was a nose defeat in the 2010 DelCap, she got just as a big cheer as Blind Luck did. In matter of fact, as my family and I where leaving the track, people where still talking about the race! This was prob the only time that I've seen that happen.
4. Tiz Miz Sue (2012): What heart does this filly have! She gave Royal Delta all that she wanted in last year's edition. It was just plain old awesome that in back to back years we got a great race. Monday was her first G1 win of her career (Ogden Phipps) and she, along with Delta is a big reason that the DelCap is a G1 race this year.
3. Blind Luck (2011): I missed the Delaware Oaks the year before being in CT, but the DelCap was the race of the year. Two longtime rivals slugging it out for the sixth time. A fantastic race! I took some photos of her and Grace, and you could tell that they where ready for battle. Also in the race that year was Life at Ten who just wasn't the same filly she was pre Breeders' Cup.
2. Royal Delta (2012): What a filly! She gave the DelCap crowd a big treat as she dug into to hold off Tiz Miz Sue. To then go win the Beldame and basically put on a front running clinic in the Ladies Classic again? Memorable! I hope she returns this year as I believe the Classic is the year end goal, but the Older Female division is pretty tough with Tiz being better and On Fire Baby as well.
1. Hard Spun (2006): I was a freshman in college when I first attended the races at Delaware Park. I remember skipping out of most of my math class to do so. My mom wasn't too happy that it was a race horse was the reason why I wanted out, but I had already done almost all my work in the class for the day and was able to get out. It was his stakes debut in the Port Penn and he romped in the mud. I will never forget that day.
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