Delaware Park horses to watch: June 12

by | Jun 12, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

Off at Delaware Park. Photo © www.HoofprintsInc.com.

by Frank Vespe

The afternoon feature at Delaware Park is a $34,000 maiden special weight race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. It’s race seven, with a 4:15 post time, and it has attracted a field of 11.

Here are a couple who might be worth watching as their careers develop.

  • #1 General Patton (9-2) is a first-time starter for ace trainer Christophe Clement. He’s a $350,000 son of War Front and so has the right to be any kind. As a betting matter, he may not be worth likely short odds; a firster going a route of ground is often a tricky proposition, and you do have to wonder why Clement thought Delaware Park a better spot to start this horse’s career than Belmont — which is closer to where he’s been training (Saratoga) and maiden purses are twice as high.
  • #4 Big Bad Zin (8-1) has a second and a third to his name in three tries but backed up readily last out. Note that the winner of his last returned to win the Jimmy Murphy Stakes at Pimlico in his follow-up. A return to earlier form for this Graham Motion trainee would put him right there. He’s also a first-time gelding.
  • #6 Douglas Road (4-1) is the likely post time favorite and ran a pretty good third on debut, and the winner of that race repeated against Churchill Downs allowance foes. Normal second-race improvement would make this Arnaud Delacour-trained son of The Factor the winner here.