Deloraine seeks more G3 Black Type in Indiana Oaks

Deloraine hopes to see a bright start to her three-year-old campaign rewarded with a first G3 victory in the Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand, USA, on Saturday, 5 July.

The Candy Ride homebred returns from a break for Eoin Harty having finished third on all three appearances so far this year, most recently going down by just under six lengths in April’s G3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.

Deloraine acquitted herself well against strong opposition at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this season, finishing behind subsequent dual G1 winner La Cara in the Suncoast Stakes and leading turf filly Nitrogen in the G3 Florida Oaks.  

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Deloraine will try her luck to get a Graded win in the G3 Indiana Oaks. She has been placed in three Stakes races, including behind a future G1 winner and the top three-year-old turf filly in the country.

“She will still have to improve and run her best race to win as there are two very promising fillies for top outfits in the Cox and Walsh barns, although they are both trying Graded level for the first time.

“Deloraine has had a break since her last start and Eoin is very happy with how she is coming into the race. She is fresh and has run well off a layoff before.”

Encino is doubly entered on the same card, with the Brad Cox-trained colt set to make his first turf appearance in the Jonathan B Schuster Memorial Stakes. A Stakes winner on Tapeta, the four-year-old’s biggest victory to date came on dirt in the 2024 G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Hope Mission, a maiden winner at Fair Grounds in March, steps up to Stakes company for Brendan Walsh for the Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap.