Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ star filly Crazy Beautiful will be on the hunt for more Graded Stakes success when she lines up in the G3 Delaware Oaks on Saturday.
The popular gray enters the race off the back of her impressive victory in the Summertime Oak at Santa Anita under Mike Smith, who will retain the ride at Delaware Park at the weekend.
“She is doing great,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We could not be happier with this filly. She handled the race in California pretty handily, so hopefully, we will be able to pull off the coast-to-coast bookend and pull off the Santa Anita to Delaware Park double. The Delaware Oaks is a real good spot for her. The money, the grade and the timing are all what we are looking for. We are excited that Mike Smith is coming back to ride her and I suspect she will be tough.”
The success in southern California was redemption for the daughter of Liam’s Map after a luckless run in the Kentucky Oaks. It also signalled a return to the form that had previously seen her land the Gulfstream Park Oaks and place runner-up in the Davona Dale.
The improving filly gave notice of her potential in her juvenile campaign posting a record of two wins and two seconds from five starts, including a second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland and a second in the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. She closed her 2020 campaign by finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly at Keeneland.
Although expecting a big run on Saturday, McPeek is already mapping out the road ahead for the three-year-old, including a trip to upstate New York.
“Absolutely, there is no question and after the Delaware Oaks, she will ship to Saratoga,” McPeek said. “If she runs well, she might come back in the Coaching Club, or we may skip the Coaching Club and run in the Alabama. We have not decided that yet, but she will be definitely be headed to Saratoga.”
Crazy Beautiful has a career record of four wins and three seconds from nine starts with earnings of $520,865.