Anorama Sets Del Mar Oaks Stakes Record

by Joe Naiman

Not only did Anorama win the Grade I Del Mar Oaks stakes race Aug. 21 at Del Mar, but the Golden Eagle Farm filly set a stakes record.

Anorama won the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies with a time of 1:46.26, breaking the record of 1:47.04 set last year by Dessert. The Del Mar Oaks race has been run since 1957.

Anorama, who had finished behind Ticker Tape in six previous races, finished ahead of the filly by a nose in the Del Mar Oaks. A total of seven fillies ran in the race.

Anorama broke fifth and was last at the quarter-mile, half-mile, and 3/4-mile posts. She was sixth in the stretch, although she was only 3 1/2 lengths behind Ticker Tape, who led in the stretch.

"Today, it was a matter of getting her clear, getting her outside to run," said jockey David Flores, who rode Anorama. "I thought about going inside for a second, but then I said 'No.' Once I got her clear, she came flying. She didn't have to worry about luck today."

Trainer Julio Canani told Flores not to ride Anorama any differently than in the past.

"I was just praying that David could get her in the clear," Canani said. "He did and then she was really rolling."

Anorama, who was foaled in France in February 2001, is the offspring of Sri Pekan and Tanzania.