Dorsey Brown and Richard Palmer’s homebred Luna Time (Malibu Moon) took full
advantage of 5-2 favorite Joint Return’s (Include) propensity of running well
back in the rear of the field during Saturday’s $100,625
Obeah S.
(G3) at Delaware Park, getting the jump on her rival rounding the turn and
easily holding for a three-length victory.
Jockey Forest Boyce settled Luna Time about midpack as Natalie Victoria
(Indian Ocean) took command of the race through pedestrian splits of :24 2/5,
:49 2/5 and 1:13 1/5. Montana Native (Yes It’s True) was drafting to her outside
while Perique (Tapit) bided her time just to that one’s inside while behind the
pacesetter saving ground on the rail.
All the while, Joint Return was running as much as 10 lengths behind Natalie
Victoria, and six lengths behind her closest rival, in the rear of the
10-distaffer field.
Nearing the final turn, Montana Native began closing the gap between her and
Natalie Victoria, but was soon joined by Luna Time to her outside. Those two
duked it out entering the stretch as Natalie Victoria gave way, with Luna Time
emerging with the lead. Joint Return was closing fast on the outside but ran out
of room as Luna Time stopped the clock in 1:49 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles on Delaware’s
fast main track.
Luna Time was sent off at 15-1 and paid $32.80 to her faithful supporters. Joint Return barely got second by a neck over Montana Native, while Fortune
Pearl (Mineshaft) finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth.
Luna Time was trying graded rivals for the first time having just placed
third while making her stakes bow in the Maryland Racing Media S. at Laurel
Park. The Graham Motion pupil hadn’t been seen in competition since that
February 14 event, but returned in style in this spot to improve her career
record to 9-4-1-1, $195,073.
The Maryland-bred Luna Time is the first registered stakes winner out of dual
stakes heroine High Moment (High Yield), who is a half-sister to Grade 2 victor
Sir Whimsey (Jump Start). Her third dam is multiple stakes queen A Thrilling
Moment (Lydian), and this female family also boasts Grade 1 vixen Jessica is
Back (Put It Back).
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com