BY BROCK SHERIDAN
In his first 21 career races, Stonehedge LLC’s homebred Dean Delivers had one start outside his native Florida, a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt won by Elite Power last July at Saratoga.
However, after venturing out of the Sunshine State for the first time since in his last two starts, the 5-year-old gelding has a pair of stakes victories including a two-and-a-half-length score in the $125,250 Alapocas Run Monday at Delaware Park. He also won the $104,000 Mr. Prospector by eight lengths at Monmouth Park on May 27.
Making his second start for trainer Edward Allard, Dean Delivers took on six other 3-year-olds and older in the six-furlong Alapocas Run.
Dean Delivers and jockey Jaime Rodriguez broke on top from post seven in the Alapocas Run but 6-5 favorite Super Chow sprinted through on the inside to take a one-length lead down the backstretch. Super Chow maintained that advantage on Dean Delivers in second through the first quarter mile in :22.64 but that margin began to diminish around the far turn as Dean Delivers ranged up to his outside.
Super Chow and Dean Delivers hit the top of the stretch on even terms as Gordian Knot joined them on the far outside. Dean Delivers began to get clear with a furlong to the finish and under a hand ride from Rodriguez, finished in 1:11.42 as Prince of Jericho came on late to get second. Gordian Knot was another length-and-three-quarters back in third with Super Chow fourth. American Monarch, Sir Wellington and O’Conner Sunset completed the order of finish. Ninetypercentmaddie and Seven’s Eleven were scratched.
Dean Delivers paid $7.80 to win.
It was the fourth career stakes victory for Dean Delivers, who won the Grade 3 Smile Sprint and the $90,000 Big Drama against fellow Florida-breds last year, both at Gulfstream Park. He now has $637,660 from seven wins, eight seconds and two thirds from 23 career starts.
Dean Delivers is by Stoneshedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze out of Slick and True, by Yes It’s True. Slick and True has five winners from seven starters with Dean Delivers as her only stakes winner. She has an unraced 2-year-old filly, J J’s True Bet, by Gentlemen’s Bet and was bred to both Lone Sailor and Strike Power in 2023. Slick and True is a third-generation mare from the Stonehedge LLC breeding program. Slick and True is out of the Florida-bred stakes-winning mare Slick Lady, who was bred by the late Gil Campbell. Campbell purchased Dean Delivers’ third dam, Beaty Sark, for $40,000 at the 1987 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale.
