Delaware Park horses to watch: July 10

by | Jul 10, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

There’s a nine-race card on tap at Delaware Park today with a 1:15 p.m. first post. One of the races is for Arabians. Some horses to watch:

  • Race 6 is a $34,000 maiden special weight race going six furlongs on the main track with a 6-5 favorite in the form of Larry Jones trainee Americana. a runner who is stakes-placed despite being a maiden. But she’s also winless in eight tries and was a well-beaten second, behind Miss Gracer, in her local debut with Jones a month ago. Two others we’re interested to see: Layla (8-5), a Christophe Clement trainee making the drive down I-87 and I-95 from Saratoga, which itself raises questions, as does her fits-and-starts work pattern. But she’s nicely bred, a daughter of Union Rags out of the Mineshaft mare I’m a Flake, and her recent works have been solid, including a bullet three-eighths on July 5. Then there’s Before (8-1), who was thrashed in her debut back in late February and hasn’t raced since. Trainer Michael Lerman adds Lasix and blinkers today on a runner who, though she ran poorly, was well backed at the windows (4-1 at post time). She can certainly improve in her second try.
  • Race 8 is a $7500 starter allowance going 1 mile 70 yards on the main track. Tim Kreiser trainee Guns of Steel (7-5) is a solid morning line favorite, and deservedly so after having made a good living the last couple of years beating up on similar. Also here is eight-year-old Lawyer Dave (5-1). The Lawyer Ron gelding, off six month until June 7, earned a spot on Doug McCoy’s horses to watch list after making a big middle move before tiring in his season debut. He then ran a good second in a turf stake at Laurel Park at long odds and here returns to an easier spot on the main track where he’s recorded all 10 of his wins. Alex Cintron will ride.

ARABIAN WATCH

from our friends at Arabian Finish Line.

Today’s Arabian race is an allowance race for horses that have never won 2 races. The distance is 1 1/16 mile. Zephyr CS was Scratched leaving a field of 6. RB Hot Date, with leading Delaware jockey Carol Cedeno aboard, looks to take the next step in his career after his maiden victory. CV Lily De Cardonne is making her first start of 2017, but she won or placed in 5 of 8 starts last year. Madjikman, the morning line favorite, was third in his first start this year and could do well with the added distance.