As predicted, the skies over California were nothing short of perfect for the running of the Del Webb Oaks. The full field of fourteen fillies sauntered down towards the gates in the post parade, many of the fillies breaking out in a pre-race sweat because of the unexpected heat that came on race day. Despite the hot weather which was making some of the fillies irritable, they all loaded fairly easily into the starting gate for the start of the Grade I race.Out of the gate first to lead by half a length was sdmfclaims owned and trained I Can’t Stand It. Running along in behind in second was Desert Heights (IRE), owned by stalmanu3, with buffy7 trained Serpent Breath (IRE) running a length back in third. In fourth and fifth were Absolut Ego (JPN) and Tupungato, trained by steelers and hipica respectively. Out of the gate last and trailing the leader by ten and three-fourth lengths was Kneel Before Zod, trained by willyam40.
I Can’t Stand It (IRE) then lengthened her lead to one length over Desert Heights (IRE). Serpent Breath (IRE) dropped back another length but still hung on to third position over Absolut Ego (JPN) and Tupungato. Kneel Before Zod had dropped further back and was now trailing by sixteen and one-fourth.
The positions remained unchanged until before the stretch when stalker Culinary Cutie (IRE) made a move on the outside and rocketed into first, leading by a narrow head over previous front-runner I Can’t Stand It. Culinary Cutie’s (IRE) trainer, buzz, was ecstatic at his moment, feeling his filly was going to wrap up the win. Moving up into third though was Tupungato. Falling back into fourth was Desert Heights (IRE) with Absolut Ego (JPN) in fifth. Moving up into sixth slightly was Florida-bred larkin owned Full Future. Dropping into seventh and fading quickly was Serpent Breath (IRE). Hurricane Occy (NZ), owned by warbred1, was beginning to make her move and was now in eighth with Prayer Vindication, trained by bongo, also gaining ground. Moving up into tenth and back by seven lengths was Bracara Agusta (IRE), owned and trained by galicia. Desert Alley (ENG), owned by lenny25 was moving up and now in eleventh and she was flying past other horses like they were standing still. Dropping back and apparently out of the race was jlincoln trained Laterals. Maintaining position was pre-race favorite The Edge, owned by stormboot, the filly just now beginning to make her move. Still in last and trailing the field coming for home but making her move on the inside was Kneel Before Zod.
Then the full field of fillies came barreling all-out towards the wire. Culinary Cutie (IRE) was still in the lead, but closer Desert Alley (ENG) was closing quickly. They came down to the wire and it was Culinary Cutie (IRE) to take the Del Webb by three and one-fourth lengths with a recorded speed figure of one hundred six. Behind in second, unable to catch the winner was quick closing Desert Alley (ENG) along with the deep closing Kneel Before Zod getting up into third after trailing the entire field for the majority of the race.
Also rans include: Full Future, Hurricane Occy (NZ), I Can’t Stand It (IRE), Tupungato, The Edge, Bracara Augusta (IRE), Prayer Vindication, Absolut Ego (JPN), Desert Heights (IRE), Serpent Breath (IRE), and Laterals.
