As race calls go, “the strides are long…the strides are strong…Crazy Beautiful crushes the competition in the Delaware Oaks!” is a pretty great commentary and no doubt music to the ears of owners Phoenix Thoroughbreds.
Those working for the Dubai based group would have let that turn of phrase wash over them in a tide of pure joy as they watched their star filly dazzle in landing a third Graded Stakes victory. Sent off as a red-hot favourite following her victory in the Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita, she never gave her connections or backers any cause for concern.
In truth, it was a truly dominant display at Delaware Park with the legendary Mike Smith making the trip to maintain his partnership with the gorgeous gray. Happy to sit a few lengths off some early pacesetters, Smith and Crazy Beautiful always looked at ease, sat in third place in the early stages. All the way down the backstretch, the Kenny McPeek trainee eyeballed the leaders and when given a bit more rein to play with, eased up alongside them. At the top of the stretch, she was marginally in front and when Smith asked her to go and win her race, the daughter of Liam’s Map sprang clear and powered to victory. The official margin reads six lengths, but that was only after Sith had well and truly taken his foot off the gas.