Jaywalk, the champion two-year-old filly of 2018, returns to competition against six rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) off a supbar showing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 3.
The John Servis trainee captured four of her five races as a two-year-old, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 2. That wrapped up the Cross Traffic filly’s 2018 season and she wouldn’t be seen in competition again until making her sophomore bow in the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Jaywalk ran fourth that day, but improved next out in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland to be third despite a bumpy trip. She was sent off at 6-1 in the Kentucky Oaks most recently, but came in at the beginning of the race before crossing under the wire in sixth. The gray lass was subsequently disqualified and placed last for interfering with another runner at the start.
Jaywalk has posted a pair of nice works in readiness for this return and will be sporting both blinkers and jockey Joe Bravo for the first time in this spot.
Among those lining up against the Eclipse Award winner on Saturday are Avalina, an 8 1/4-length victress of the Parx Spring Oaks last out, and Fashion Faux Pas, a 14-length romper in the Light Hearted Stakes at Delaware Park on June 5.
One race after the Delaware Oaks, Group 3 vixen Gaining headlines a group of 11, including one main-track only entrant, in the $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf. The British-bred five-year-old makes just her third stateside start in this spot and is still looking for a first U.S. win after running second in both the Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Also included in the field are Matron Stakes (G3) winner Coachwhip and Gentle Ruler, who caught Gaining late in the Keertana last out for the three-quarter length victory.
Nine turf runners and one main-track only contestant make up the field for the $200,000 Kent Stakes (G3). The nine-furlong grass affair features stakes hero Empire of War, who finished second in the Tale of the Cat Stakes last out, and recent Stanton Stakes victor Eons, who rides a three-race win streak into the Kent.
The stakes action kicks off Saturday at Delaware Park in the $75,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Brazilian Group 1 winner Vettori Kin, Grade 2 victor Manitoulin and defending champion O Dionysus are part of the 13-strong field, which includes two main-track only entrants.
The Cape Henlopen is followed by the $50,000 Carl Hanford Memorial, which attracted eight runners going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
