Delahaye came with a furious rally down the center of the turf course to sweep past rivals in the final furlong to win the G3 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday, 2 June.
It was the first Graded Stakes victory for the four-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who had previously captured the Listed Tom Benson Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds in March. Delahaye entered the Mint Julep off a third-place finish in the G2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
Bumped coming out of the starting gate by an outside rival, Delahaye was taken back and settled well off the pace set by Safeen through the initial stages of the race. Relaxed and traveling well for jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Delahaye raced in sixth through the first three-quarters before swinging out four-wide at the top of the stretch.
Set down for the drive, Delahaye swept past the field in the final furlong to overtake Safeen to win by one-and-three-quarters of a length. Heavenly Sunday got up for second, with Safeen settling for third.
Delahaye was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, and races in a partnership with Three Chimneys and William Lawrence. Her dam, Bella Carina (War Front), is an unraced half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winners Malibu Prayer (G1 Ruffian, G2 Chilukki) and Valid (G2 Monmouth Cup Stakes). The female family also boasts Graded Stakes winners Swagger Jack (G1) and Tap Dance (G2).
In addition to Delahaye, Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of Spirit of St Louis, winner of the Listed Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct. The stallion is also represented this year by Nash, winner of Hot Spring Stakes and Kallos, winner of the G2 Rubiton Stakes in Australia.
