Delaware Park Racing Notebook, Vol. 2

by | Jun 21, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing, Top Stories | 3 comments

Master Plan

Master Plan won the Stanton Stakes at Delaware Park. Photo by Kathleen O’Leary.

by Doug McCoy

Every week during the Delaware Park racing season, The Racing Biz will posts The DelPark Racing Notebook. This page is designed to give helpful information to both horseplayers and horsemen about the racing picture at Delaware Park from the past week.

In the notebook, you’ll find:

  • “Horses to watch” section highlighting both horses who have shown promise those who may have had poor “trips” in their last starts.
  • “Clocker’s Corner” where track clockers will point out horses who have worked in noteworthy fashion during the past week.
  • Track tendencies or biases during the week’s races. While it would be great if every race track was completely fair and even and an equal number of speed horses, stalkers, and closers won each day, observant handicappers know this just isn’t the case. Every track’s tendencies and biases (favored styles) change and vary, often from one racing program to the next due to any number of factors, most notably weather. While these changes are often minor, there are also days where a certain type of horse (like a speed horse) has a decided advantage, and there also days where one portion of the racing strip is a better spot to race over (like the inside) than another.
  • Leading trainers and jocks and who’s been hot during the last week.

HORSES TO WATCH

  • BOREALE – This three-time winner in France made her U.S. debut on 06/14 and gave notice that she may well be a filly of stakes caliber. After hesitating at the break to be left behind her field, Boreale patiently weeded her way through traffic after a half-mile, then unleashed a strong stretch kick through a :23.4 quarter mile to post an eye-catching win in her first start in six months and first race treated with Lasix. She may well see action next in the Grade III, $200,000 Robert Dick Stakes going 11 furlongs on the turf at Delaware Park next month.
  • LAUR NET – was in the same race with Boreale and this late closer caught a race with no pace and very slow early fractions. Overmatched in her first start in a stake at Pimlico the race before after being claimed for $62,500 at Tampa, look for this one in a race with some speed in it to score at a healthy price.
  • MISS OTIS – deep closer had to work her way through a lot of traffic in a mile test last out and never got a chance to properly use her late kick. Longer distance and clear racing room into the stretch next out could make this one a winner.
  • CUBAN ARGUMENT – came into her last with a dismal record but came to life in her first ever start on the turf, turning in a very good effort. Unfortunately the race was one for amateur riders and Cuban Agreement was under very weak handling inside through the final furlong. This one could well pop up and win at a big price in a lower-priced claiming turf route.
  • INDIAN LOVER – dueled through much of his first start in six months from a less than lively rail before just missing late. With that race under his belt this Jones sprinter will be hard to beat next start.
  • ANYBODY EXITING THE SIXTH RACE ON JUNE 15 – This nine-furlong turf tilt included Grade 1 winner Ring Weekend and four other stakes winners, was a very competitive affair and anyone exiting that race should be given a long look the next time they run.

CLOCKER’S CORNER

Delaware Park clocker has this to say about several noteworthy morning moves

  • GOLD BEACH worked a bullet drill of  1:00 flat from the gate on June 10, his fourth bullet work in a row.
  • BELGIAN worked a very easy half mile in :49.2 on June 14. This one led to the late stages of debut for trainer Stidham at Pimlico in turf debut.
  • ROSE TREE-remains sharp, working a strong half in :46 then galloping out in :59.4 on June 18. Jonathan Sheppard star ran second in a Pennsylvania-bred stake to a Santa Anita shipper in last start.

Nik Juarez struck a pose after winning six times at Laurel Park on January 11, 2016. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Nik Juarez led the hot riders at Delaware Park last week, winning with three of seven mounts and finishing second on another. Antonio Gallardo, who is splitting his riding duties among several Mid-Atlantic tracks, won on two of the five mounts he accepted.

Edgar Prado, a former mainstay in New York who now bases his operations in Maryland, won on two of three mounts he rode for trainer Graham Motion, while Kristen Swan won on two of the three Arabians she rode.

JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS

[table id=152 /]
[table id=153 /]

Graham Motion.

Long time Delaware Park veteran conditioner Sam Cronk lit em up last week, winning with two of the three horses he started while finishing second with the other he sent out.

Graham Motion, Arabian powerhouse Lynn Ashby, Jorge Diaz, Joe Arboritanza, Arnaud Delacour and Michael Trombetta all won two races last week. If you’re looking for a long shot trainer the average pay off of Diaz’s horses was a whopping $63.50.

 

TRACK BIAS REPORT

Power of Snunner

Power of Snunner won the Obeah at Delaware Park. Photo by Kathleen O’Leary.

  • JUNE 12-The surface favored inside speed through the early races on June 12 but the track began to play more evenly for the later dirt races on the card.
  • JUNE 14-Close up chasers racing in the middle of the strip were the most successful most of the day, rallying out of the turn from the 3-4-5 paths.
  • JUNE 15-Stalkers and close up chasers continue to do well on this program, rallying down the middle of the track out of the turn.
  • JUNE 17-No rating on this program as the track was sloppy and sealed and this type of surface often changes the preferred type of runner from race to race.

We haven’t mentioned the turf course yet because the temporary rail has been set out 25 feet since the beginning of the meeting. Best advice for bettors when the rail is set this far out is to look for stalkers who will be able to tuck inside to the stretch and to avoid speed rivals who are liable to get caught wide. When the rail is set out 25 feet the turns are sharper and there is a shorter run out of the second turn to the wire. Horses who get caught wide, especially on the turns, have very little chance of winning.