Delaware Park Racing Notebook, Vol. 5
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 publish The Delaware Park 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
- ENTICING EVENING – Apprentice rider attempted a premature move along the rail moving into the turn of this one’s last race, couldn’t get through and was never able to regain momentum. Worth a look next out, especially if switched to a stronger, more experienced pilot.
- WINGED CHARGER – Tried to close late while extremely wide and also racing against a pretty strong speed bias. If this one catches a fair racing strip and better tactical position he can win next.
- SILVER TROPHY – Was very sharp winning off in a five and half furlong sprint, covering the distance in a very quick 1:03.91 and should be able to handle a move up in class.
- SWEET TWEET – Broke slow then got a very antiseptic ride when well backed in debut. A sharper break and more committed ride should make this one tough next out.
CLOCKER’S CORNER
Delaware Park clocker has this to say about several noteworthy morning moves
- RUNNING MATE – Larry Jones trained 3-year-old looks like he’s ready for a top effort when he makes his first start since January. He blistered five furlongs in :58 4/5 on July 11 and galloped out a very strong 1:11.4.
- FINAL PROSPECT – Prepping for his first start since January, this Gary Capuano runner came home strong in his five furlong work of 1:01 on July 6 then galloped out well in 1:14.
- HONOR THE FLEET – Couldn’t handle Chad Brown’s 1/5 favorite Timeline in Monmouth’s Pegasus last start, winding up third in that prep for the Haskell, but rebounded well, breezing five furlongs in :59 4/5 on July 9.
Untimely injuries have plagued talented Alex Cintron, who led the jockey standings at Delaware Park in 2013, in recent years. But Cintron showed last week he’s still got what it takes, winning four races from 16 mounts, and the average win payoff of his winners was $9.30.
Orlando Bochachica is a very crafty and talented rider, but one who tends to be streaky, running hot and cold. Last week was certainly one of his hot weeks as he won on four of the five mounts he accepted and his runners also returned a healthy average win payoff of $11.30.
Other notables include Gerard Alomodovar (three wins and a pair of seconds from 13 mounts) and Jomar Torres ( 3 winners from 14 rides). Apprentice Jose Bracho also had a good week, winner on two of the three horses he rode.
JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS
[table id=167 /]Former rider Abel Castellano has turned to training, and he sent out three winners from six starters last week — the first winners of his career. Wayne Potts also had a good week, winning with two of the five horses he sent out. They were the only trainers at the track to record more than one win during the week.
Others who had good weeks included the ageless wonder Sam Cronk, won had a win and a second from 3 starters. John Rigattieri, whose outfit has been one of the most successful and consistent at Delaware Park for several years now, had a winner from five starters with two seconds, while very sharp horseman Claudio Gonzalez had a win and a pair of seconds from three runners last week.
TRACK BIAS REPORT
Power of Snunner won the Obeah at Delaware Park. Photo by Kathleen O’Leary.
- 07/03-The main track surface changed radically last week, starting on Monday, July 3rd. There was a distinct speed bias and there was also a marked glibness along the inside portion of the racing strip. Horses inside who made the lead were next to impossible to collar and pass that day. Bias students should mark this on the calendar as one of the most speed favoring strips thus far this meeting.
- 07/05-Speed horses continued to have the advantage but the inner portion of the strip wasn’t quite as tight as on Monday.
- 07/06-The surface was still kind to speed runners, but close-up chasers had a better chance on this card.
- 07/08-The strip was quick and speed favoring for Delaware Oaks day, but as the very long racing program wore on the surface began to be more fair and even, and two-deep closing types ran one-two in the Dashing Beauty Stakes going six furlongs.
- NOTE-We urged bettors to put an asterisk next to the sixth race on June 15 and said it would produce a number of winners. Two to run back from there have already won their follow-ups: POSTULATION validated our assessment in spades, upsetting the Cape Henlopen on Delaware Oaks day by six lengths at 11-1 odds; and Ghost Hunter won the G3 Arlington Handicap.
