With her namesake on site to cheer her on in the $400,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess, Shane’s Girlfriend announced her legitimacy as a potential Kentucky Oaks runner with a dominant performance in the one mile event at Delta Downs.
Longshot Flatter Up broke running from the middle of the field to grab the early lead. Shane’s Girlfriend moved up from the outside to settle in second with Caroline Test and Cajun Delta Dawn in third and fourth. Post time favorite Golden Mischief was the early trailer.
Little changed in the running order for the top four with the exception of Cajun Delta Dawn taking over third from Caroline Test. Flatter Up continued to show the way through splits of :23.06, :47.16, and 1:11.71.
Inside the final quarter, Shane’s Girlfriend jetted past Flatter Up, receiving no resistance whatsoever from that rival. As they hit the top of the stretch, Flavien Prat let his filly loose and she poured it on through the final furlong. The final time of 1:37.98 might not seem impressive at first glance; however, Delta Downs is not known to produce quick times. While posting her 13 1/4-length victory, Shane's Girlfriend took nearly a full second off the stakes record.
Cajun Delta Dawn was second best, and pacesetter Flatter Up held on to save third by ½-length over a closing Chanel’s Legacy. Forest Circle, San Antonio Stroll, Golden Mischief, Jilly, Dude Fantasy, and Caroline Test completed the order of finish.
As the 7-2 second choice, Shane’s Girlfriend paid $8.80, $5.20, and $4.40. Eight-to-one shot Cajun Delta Dawn returned $8.00 and $5.20 for the place, and 20-1 longshot Flatter Up returned $9.00 for the show. The $1 exacta paid $35.50, the $0.50 trifecta returned $286.10, and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $455.98.
By Adios Charlie and out of the Proud Citizen mare Western Tornado, Shane’s Girlfriend was bred by Ocala Stud. She was then purchased for $95,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2016 June Two-Year Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale by Dennis O’Neill for a partnership consisting of himself, ERJ Racing, LLC, and W. C. Racing. Dennis's brother Doug O'Neill is the trainer.
Now 2-for-2 with $271,200 in the bank, Shane’s Girlfriend debuted as a sharp winner of a 6-furlong maiden special weight just 3 weeks ago at Santa Anita. With Tyler Baze aboard, she went straight out to the lead en route to a 5 ¾-length triumph. Again, the final time of 1:10.47 was not terribly impressive, but the facile win was.
