Delaware Park: 2024 Delaware Oaks Exotics Plays

A nice field of seven three-year-old fillies will vie in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile affair attracted five stakes heroines and an up-and-coming filly in a tricky race to decipher. 

Delaware Oaks Exotics Wagers:

$5 exacta key box 3 with 6,7 ($20)

$.50-cent trifecta 3,6,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 ($18)

$.50-cent superfecta 3,6,7 with 3,6,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 ($18)

Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) vixen #3 Power Squeeze is the likely one to beat for conditioner Jorge Delgado. A strong third in the deep Acorn S. (G1) at Saratoga last time out, the Union Rags filly broke her maiden nicely on the surface as a juvenile and she is a perfect fit at the distance, as well. Javier Castellano will ride and have her stalking the pace while always in range. 

Saffie Joseph’s #6 Mystic Lake could control this race from the break and has to be treated as a wire-to-wire threat. The Mo Town Florida-bred was never headed in a mostly facile Miss Preakness S. (G3) triumph last time out and stretches out following that six-furlong heat. I would have more confidence in her with an inside post draw, but she’s an obvious danger, nonetheless. Fernando Jara inherits the mount. 

HANSON: Power Squeeze gets class relief in Delaware Oaks

#7 Sidamara looks like a very good prospect for Bill Mott. The Juddmonte homebred has put in a trio of strong runs in succession to begin her career and figures to make an impact while making her stakes debut. This Arrogate sophomore has delivered a fine closing punch in a pair of outings in succession, and while the pace will not be to her benefit, she can’t be omitted. Regular rider Jose Ortiz coming in to ride is a major positive, in my opinion. 

#4 Ringy Dingy was ambitiously placed in the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) for her seasonal debut by Danny Gargan, and she made a decent middle move before expectedly tiring late when crossing the wire in sixth. The Dialed In chestnut was beaten by 8 3/4 lengths in the tilt, which isn’t horrible, and she has exotics appeal to me second off the shelf. It’s worth noting that she aired in a stakes race at Delaware as a juvenile, too.

Black-Eyed Susan (G2) third #2 Call Another Play has morphed into a new animal since running long and will challenge for a placing with her best for Trombetta.