Big Cuddle proves too strong in Delaware Derby

Photo:

Tim Sudduth / Eclipse Sportswire

Favored Big Cuddle broke a step slow, recovered to launch a three-wide bid on the far turn and drew off in the final furlong to a four-length victory Saturday in the $300,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park.

Yedsit Hazlewood rode the winner for trainer Gary Capuano in the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds, the second running of the Delaware Derby. Pocket 3’s Racing owns the colt, who went postward as the 13-10 favorite in a field of six.

Ponder and Dream (8-1) broke alertly and set the early pace in the two path, leading through an opening quarter-mile in 24.30 seconds. Out of the Woods (3-1) pressed along the rail, then edged ahead down the backstretch to reach the half in 48.29. Big Cuddle settled in fourth through that point before angling three wide on the far turn, taking command by the five-sixteenths pole and running three-quarters in 1:12.48.

Out of the Woods refused to let him go, vying for command near the five-sixteenths and chasing into the lane, but the favorite proved too strong. Big Cuddle led through a mile in 1:37.90 and extended his advantage under mild urging to a final time of 1:44.27. He paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.10.

Out of the Woods stayed on for second and returned $3.80 and $2.40. Second choice Sovereign Law (8-5), who brushed with Code of Silence in upper stretch under Irad Ortiz Jr., ran on for third and paid $2.10 to show. Code of Silence (67-1) closed for fourth, Ponder and Dream tired to fifth after dueling early and Minorinconvenience (16-1) trailed the field. Litmus Test was scratched.