Yearly Report Heads Delaware Oaks Field

Golden Eagle Farm's Yearly Report tops a field of ten entered in the $500,000 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) to be run at 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park Saturday.

The California-bred Yearly Report, trained by Bob Baffert, sports a career record of four wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $378,400. The most accomplished runner in the field, she's ridden Saturday by Jerry Bailey while carrying 122 pounds.

In her last outing, the daughter of General Meeting notched a 1 1/2-length score in the 1 1/8-mile Black Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico on May 14. Previously, she registered a four-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park on April 24.

Yearly Report won the Jan. 14 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park. Her only defeat came at seven furlongs in the California Breeders Championship at Santa Anita Park on Dec. 27 when she ran second, beaten two lengths.

Phillip & Marcia Cohen and Steve Klesaris' locally based Becky in Pink will be seeking the upset. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Formal Gold trained by Klesaris has a career record of five wins and a third from ten starts with earnings of $123,764. Her record at Delaware Park is four wins from six starts.

In her last, she posted a five-length score on the turf in the 1 1/16-mile St. Georges Stakes on June 15. Previously, she beat older fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths in a mile and seventy-yard main track allowance.

Last year, the same connections had Hennie's Song, the morning line favorite for the Delaware Oaks. Hennie's Song was unbeaten in six starts and coming off two local stakes victories. But she was a late scratch because shortly before the race she was sold to interests in the Middle East.

Klesaris is anxious for another opportunity to win the race.

"She may not come with the same credentials as Hennie's Song, but she is certainly a nice filly," said trainer Steve Klesaris. "She has won three of her last four, she has beaten older fillies in a three other than, and she was won some nice third and second level allowances. We were looking for a stake against her own age group and she has earned her right to run in this race."

Ender's Sister is coming off a third-place finish, beaten by five lengths, as the 4-5 choice in Churchill Downs' Dogwood Breeder's Cup (gr. III) June 5 after setting the pace.

Bending Strings, who won her first graded stakes in the Nassau County (gr. II) by 4 3/4 lengths May 8 at Belmont Park, finished fourth in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in her last start June 4.

$500,000 Delaware Oaks (gr. II), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 mile
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Becky in Pink (KY), Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 115, 10/1
2. Strategy (KY), no rider, 115, 10/1,
3. Richetta (MD), Jeremy Rose, 115, 15/1
4. Pilfer (KY), Jose C. Caraballo, 117, 8/1
5. Yearly Report (CA), Jerry D. Bailey, 122, 5/2
6. A Lulu Ofa Menifee (KY), Ramon A. Dominguez, 115, 12/1
7. Hopelessly Devoted (FL), Roberto Alvarado, Jr., 119, 10/1
8. Irish Melody (KY), John R. Velazquez, 115, 8/1
9. Ender's Sister (KY), Cornelio H. Velasquez, 119, 9/2
10. Bending Strings (KY), John D. Gunther, 115, 5/1