Wilmington, Del., July 7, 2024 — Final Furlong and Madaket Stable’s Honor D Lady cruised to victory in the $500,125 Grade II Delaware Handicap today. The 4-year-old daughter of Honor Code won by 5 ½-lengths to give her jockey Jose Ortiz, Jr., his fourth victory in the filly and mare summer classic which equals the record set by Angel Cordero Jr. who won the race in 1968, 1974, 1981 and 1987. Ortiz previously won the race with Belle Gallantey in 2014 and Elate in 2018 and 2019.
Honor D Lady retuned $6.20 as the second choice in the field of seven. Saddle Up Jessie, with Sheldon Russell, finished second a half-length in front of the even-money favorite Wet Paint, with Flavien Prat.
Abundancia, with Julio Hernandez, cut early fractions :24.07 for the quarter-mile and :49:67 for the half-mile before fading to sixth. The final time was 1:59.86 for the mile and three-sixteenths over a fast-main track.
This was the second win of the year for Honor D Lady from four starts. The Kentucky-bred trained by Saffie Joseph won the Grade III Royal Delta on February 17. Her career record is five wins from 13 starts with earnings of $708,167.
“I rode her one time already and we won,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz Jr. “Saffie (Joseph) told me you have the two hole, so try to break clean, try to find your way outside, do not give too much to do and keep close to the pace, but at the end of the day you ride her how you want. That is what I tried to do and I am glad it worked out. When I hit the 3/8ths pole, she kind of moved about two jumps before I wanted, so I had to kind of grab her and take a little momentum away from her, but I was sitting on a lot of horse.”
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