Power Squeeze

Power Squeeze, a Union Rags filly bred in Kentucky, made three starts as a 2-year-old in late summer and fall 2023. She finished fourth in her debut at Delaware Park, third at Monmouth Park, and then first in her final start of the year. In that race, she dominated a one-mile race washed of off the turf back at Delaware Park, coasting home by 4 ½ lengths.

The Jorge Delgado trainee resurfaced at Gulfstream Park in South Florida on New Year’s Day 2024 in the Cash Run Stakes held at a one-turn mile. She displayed significant improvement in her 3-year-old bow, romping home by five lengths in 1:37 flat. Delgado then shipped his filly to Tampa Bay Downs for the Feb. 10 Suncoast Stakes, held around two turns at 1 mile and 40 yards. She was again impressive, taking the race by a widening 2 ¾ lengths.

A try in a graded stakes came next, and Power Squeeze was overlooked by bettors in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks March 30 as much of the attention focused on the 3-year-old debut of highly regarded Ways and Means. That filly took control in the 1 1/16-mile GP Oaks at the top of the stretch, but Power Squeeze, with Daniel Centeno in the irons, rallied late and outfinished the odds-on favorite by a length for her fourth consecutive win. Power Squeeze earned 100 qualifying points for the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks with the victory.

Power Squeeze got off to a slow start in the Kentucky Oaks and was 13^th of 14 runners after three-quarters of a mile. She rallied belatedly to finish sixth at 21.50-1 odds.

The Union Rags filly returned five weeks later and ran third, beaten by 6 ¾ lengths, in the $500,000 DK Horse Acorn Stakes.

Power Squeeze returned to the winner’s circle in her next start as she battled gamely in deep stretch to nip Sidamara by a nose in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks on July 8 at Delaware Park.

Power Squeeze then earned another extremely close win in her next start, but this time in a much bigger spot and on a much bigger stage. She won a stretch battle against favorite Candied to prevail by a head in the Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes presented by Keeneland Sales going 1 1/4 miles on the main track on Aug. 17 at Saratoga.

Power Squeeze is out of the multiple stakes-winning Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze and is a half-sister to stakes winner Call On Mischief.