Kentucky-bred Velocity stormed through the stretch to win the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Del Mar.
Benefitting from a ground-saving ride from jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, Velocity rallied strongly along the inside at the eighth pole. The bay filly forged to the front in deep stretch and defeated Lush Lips (GB) by a half-length at the finish. Velocity covered 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.45.
“To be honest I thought she was going to be better on the dirt. But I had a wonderful trip,” said Gonzalez. “I was following Antonio (Fresu on Edge of Mali) all the way around. Just waiting for a little seam, and once I saw it, she went right through it. This is such a fun race to race, especially here in Del Mar.”
Trainer Mike McCarthy saddled Velocity for the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners overseen by Aron Wellman. Those are the same connections behind the sparkling 3-year-old colt Journalism.
“That’s as good of a ride as you’ll ever see,” said McCarthy. “I thought she got the perfect trip there. A seam opened on the fence. It was good. She’s had a wonderful couple of weeks down here. She was on her toes in a great way walking around the paddock. I liked everything I saw today.”
Velocity, who was making only her fifth lifetime start and scoring her third win and first stakes victory, picked up a check for $180,000 from the $303,000 Oaks purse pushing her earnings to $274,800. She was bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds LLC.Velocity is by Nyquist out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Blast.