Life At Ten cruised to an easy three-length victory in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) July 17 (VIDEO), earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 4.
Life at Ten ran her winning streak to six straight and her trainer Todd Pletcher equaled the Delaware Handicap record of four for most victories by a trainer held by Henry Clark, the trainer for Christiana Stables. Clark won in 1958 and 1959 with Endine and 1969 and 1970 with Obeah. Pletcher won the Delaware Handicap in 2001 with Irving’s Baby, in 2006 with Fleet Indian and in 2007 with Unbridled Belle.
Life At Ten cleared the field of six from her outside post, quickly gaining the lead and the rail first time past the grandstand. Under jockey John Velazquez, she set effortless fractions of :24.98, :49.75, and 1:114.01, always holding a daylight advantage over Miss Match, who tracked in second.
Approaching the second turn of the 10-furlong event, Life At Ten widened her lead as Velazquez looked back to see if any threats were presenting themselves. They weren’t. Life At Ten won as she pleased.
“On paper it looked like she was the controlling speed, but you never know,” Pletcher said. “She was fortunate to get an easy first quarter and half and she really had a lot left in the stretch. We will probably look at the Personal Ensign at Saratoga next and go from there.
"It is just special to win the Delaware Handicap because it is such an important race for fillies and mares. We have always looked at the Del ‘Cap as a great opportunity. It has a great tradition and great purse and we have been fortunate enough to win the race four times.”
Life At Ten, a 5-year-old, completed the course in 2:03.21. Miss Singhsix was along for second, with Funny Moon checking in third. Milwaukee Appeal, Miss Match, and Million Seller completed the order of finish.
Life At Ten is owned by Cynthia DeBartolo and was bred in Kentucky by Nickelback Farm. She is by Malibu Moon —Rahrahsixboombah, by Rahy.
Earlier on the Delaware Park program, Juddmonte Farms’ Treat Gently notched a victory in the $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (gr. IIIT) over the turf.
With John Velazquez aboard, the 5-year-old daughter of Cape Cross scored by 1 1/4 lengths and returned $5.40 as the second choice in the field of 10. A She's Adorable finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Ainamaa. The 3-to-2 favorite, Gozzip Girl, with Elvis Trujillo, finished fourth. The final time for the 1 3/8-mile test for fillies and mares was 2:19.02.
Treat Gently, a Great Britain homebred trained by Bill Mott, raised her career record to five wins from 14 starts. She won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park by 4 1/2 lengths in her most recent start May 22.