BY BROCK SHERIDAN
DEA Thoroughbred Racing LLC’s Florida-bred Night Cap rallied from far back to produce a mild upset at odds of 8-1 in the $125,000 Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park Sunday. The Dashing Beauty featured eight fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, who went six furlongs.
It was the first career stakes win for the 6-year-old Night Cap, who was claimed by trainer Horacio De Paz for $40,000 out of her last race–a second place finish to Goodgirl Badhabits at Pimlico on May 16.
In the Dashing Beauty, Night Cap was last, more than nine lengths behind frontrunner Goodgirl Badhabits through a first quarter mile in an honest :23.37. Goodgirl Badhabits was a length in front of Late Frost to her outside in second turning for home as Night Cap began to pick up pace with a ground-saving trip under jockey Flavien Prat.
Goodgirl Badhabits and Late Frost went head and head down the stretch before Night Cap appeared with a rush on the outside with less than a sixteenth of a mile to the finish. Night Cap went on to win by four-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:13.39 on the fast track. Late Frost was second, a neck ahead of Jersey Pearl in third. Goodgirl Badhabits, 8-5 favorite Olivia Darling, Fee, Red Hot Mess and Bequine completed the order of finish.
Night Cap paid 18.40 to win.
The consistent Night Cap now has won 12 of 23 career starts with a second and fourth thirds with earnings of $346,115.
Night Cap is by J P’s Gusto out of Midnight, by Silver Deputy and was bred in Florida by Lonnie Stokes. Midnight has produced five winners from six starters including stakes-placed Florida-bred Caramel Martini, by Biondetti.
