Exiting a distant third to divisional leader Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Acorn Stakes at Saratoga June 7, Power Squeeze called on her considerable class to hold off odds-on Sidamara to take out Monday's rescheduled GIII Delaware Oaks. One of the first away, the baldy-faced chestnut was fourth of the five runners turning up the backstretch and was trapped out five deep passing the half-mile. Asked to take closer order while deep on the turn, Power Squeeze was off the bridle as longtime leader Ringy Dingy (Dialed In) looked a real threat to take them all the way. But Power Squeeze found her second wind to gain a narrow advantage from between rivals just inside the eighth pole. Despite kicking back over to her left lead, she managed to get home for a nose success as the 13-10 second favorite. Regaled rallied for a piece at 71-1.
“She showed today she has the determination to win,” said winning trainer Jorge Delgado. “I thought at any point we could lose, but she just kept going and going and she won the head bob. I felt a little nervous coming into the stretch because the leader, Ringy Dingy, opened a couple of lengths and looked comfortable on the lead. The horse coming from behind [Sidamara] was coming, but when she got that horse in her eyesight, she started fighting and showed she had the determination to win.”
Power Squeeze, who broke her maiden over the Delaware main track last October, opened her sophomore campaign with three straight stakes victories, taking the Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 1 by five lengths before traveling to Tampa Bay Downs to annex the Feb. 10 Suncoast Stakes. She earned a spot in the GI Kentucky Oaks with a win in the Mar. 30 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. A well-beaten sixth behind Thorpedo Anna on the First Friday in May, she was 6 3/4 lengths adrift of that filly in the Acorn last time out.
Delgado indicated Power Squeeze could go next in the Aug. 24 Cathryn Sophia Stakes at Parx as a prep for the GI Cotillion Stakes, or she could be trained up to that Sept. 21 race.
“We are looking forward to having another opportunity against her [Thorpedo Anna],” Delgado said.
Pedigree Notes:
Callmethesqeeze, also the dam of Mahoning Valley stakes winner Call On Mischief (Into Mischief), has an unraced 2-year-old filly named Starship Athena (Street Sense). That filly was purchased by Lane Richardson for $50,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton October sale before bringing $160,000 from Starship Stables at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale two months ago.
Reiley McDonald's Athens Woods purchased Callmethesqueeze, in foal to Liam's Map, for $50,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale. She produced a colt last year and was bred back to Vino Rosso.
Under the winner's third dam is graded winner Fayien (Ghostzapper).
Monday, Delaware Park
DELAWARE OAKS-GIII, $300,125, Delaware, 7-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:47.65, ft.
1–POWER SQUEEZE, 122, f, 3, by Union Rags
1st Dam: Callmethesqueeze (MSW, $324,499), by Awesome Again
2nd Dam: Mop Squeezer, by Roanoke
3rd Dam: Honey League Girl, by Honey Jay
($50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks LLC (KY); T-Jorge Delgado; J-Javier Castellano. $180,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 9-5-1-1, $592,450. *1/2 to Call On Mischief (Into Mischief), SW, $283,237. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sidamara, 120, f, 3, Arrogate–Spring in the Air, by Spring At Last. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-William I Mott. $60,000.
3–Regaled, 116, f, 3, Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($9,500 Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-Brittnee Caballero; B-Chris Baccari (KY); T-Samuel G Davis. $33,000.
Margins: NO, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.30, 0.70, 71.70.
Also Ran: Call Another Play, Ringy Dingy, Princess Indy. Scratched: Mystic Lake. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
POWER SQUEEZE ($4.60) WOW!
She battled Sidamara down the lane to prevail in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) at @DelParkRacing. @jjcjockey was in the saddle of the Union Rags (@LanesEndFarms) filly for trainer @RacingDelgado.
Bet the Lucky Last: https://t.co/Kn0KGlYEdD pic.twitter.com/5Srynpw4eW
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 8, 2024
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