2023 Del Mar Oaks Replay | Anisette Wins Big With Blistering Rail Trip From Rispoli

Anisette won the 2023 Del Mar Oaks (G1) at Del Mar with a big blistering effort after jockey Umberto Rispoli steered her up the rail at the top of the stretch.

The British-bred Leonard Powell trainee remains undefeated through 3 starts in North America, all on turf.

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Watch the official race replay here:

The press release:

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Anisette put on the most outstanding performance of the Del Mar season so far when she electrified a Saturday crowd at the seaside oval with a last-to-first run that earned her the honors in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks.

The robust daughter of the Irish stallion Awtaad was given a daring ride by Umberto Rispoli as they ducked to the rail turning for home in the 10-horse field and fired a fierce shot through the lane, getting the nine furlongs on grass in a final time of 1:48.15 as she pulled two and three-quarter lengths clear at the finish. It was the third straight stateside tally this year by the British-bred miss, who is trained by French expat Leonard Powell.

Anisette took home the $180,000 share of the $302,500 purse, pushing her earnings to $346,871. She’s been perfect in a trio of stateside starts and was a winner of one of three outings as a 2-year-old in England.

Finishing second in the 67th edition of the Oaks was Michael Ryan’s Be Your Best, who was a neck better than Martin Schwartz’s Impact Warrior.

The winner was a stout favorite at 4/5 and paid $3.60 to her backers.

Quotes:

UMBERTO RISPOLI (Anisette, winner) – “I knew I was on the best filly and that helped me ride her the way I did. I thought about going outside and I knew the pace wasn’t in my favor. But then things opened a bit inside and I went. They tell me I ride like Fernando Toro did (Toro was at Del Mar today to accept his Hall of Fame honors and gave away the trophy to Anisette’s connections). I know what that means. It’s a great honor.”

LEONARD POWELL (Anisette, winner) – “Her turn of foot made the difference at the top of the lane. I didn’t think we’d be so far back, especially with a half mile in :47, but she was good enough to overcome that and close the ground. He (Rispoli) kept his cool; we got a dream run on the rail and he had the horse to do it. She’s the goods.”