Delaware Park Racing Notebook, Vol. 6
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
- ALL GOOD TIMES – This half-sister to stakes winning middle distance runner was going well late in her debut and will be tough when stretched out to longer distances.
- BAYCHIMO – Was forced to take up, steady and altered course when running up horses’ heels at a crucial point of last. Clear racing room and a rider change makes this one a winner.
- SNUGGLING – Well-bred maiden was gaining nicely along the inside through the late stages of his debut and shouldn’t be long in leaving winless ranks.
- WINTER THOUGHT – Half-brother to pair of stakes winners was also gaining in same race with Snuggling and also looks like one with a future.
- MR. SULTANA – Another who came out of the strong maiden special weight race on July 13th, this one’s mother earned $528,000 on the track and his half-brother won over $900,000, mostly in Japan and also including a third-place finish in the UAE Derby. Broke very slow and acted very green but might want to throw that race out. Could score at big odds soon.
CLOCKER’S CORNER
Delaware Park clocker has this to say about several noteworthy morning moves
- THE CATMANCAN – Showed improvement working in company five furlongs in :59 4/5 on July 11. This one’s last can be thrown out as it was an off-the-turf race moved to the main track. Don’t overlook if back on the turf.
- BUNGALOW – Worked a solid half in :48 flat on July 17. This Proctor maiden had a rough trip in his debut at Laurel.
- INKSPIRED – This Dale Bennett trainee who came off a two month layoff with a winning race last out, continues to train smartly, working :48 3/5 and galloping out a strong five furlongs in 1:01.2 on July 15.
On the rider’s side Carol Cedeno had another solid week, winning five races from 18 mounts. Maryland mainstay Feargal Lynch won with three of the seven horses he rode while finishing second on two others. Edwin Gonzalez, who continues to have a good meeting, won three races, as did Alex Cintron, who is also riding in good form right now.
Joel Rosario, Nik Suarez, and Sheldon Russell each won a pair of races.
Overall, Cedeno has a clear lead with 19 winners to date, six more than Edwin Gonzalez, with Cintron in third with 12 wins. Cedeno has also had 37 more mounts than any other rider, helping propel her to the lead.
JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS
[table id=173 /]Christophe Clement isn’t afraid to ship from his New York base to other tracks along the East Coast if he sees a race that fits one of the runners in his large stable, and last week the French-born conditioner started five horses at Delaware, winning with three of those starters while another finished second. That roster included Frostmourne, winner of the Grade 3 Kent Stakes.
Michael Catalano Jr. had the best week among the locals, winning with three of four he sent out. Those victories put Catalano Jr. in a tie, with Anthony Pecoraro, for leading trainer for the meeting with 10 tallies.
Runners from the barn of Tom Proctor, who has stalls both here and at Fair Hill, won three races from the four the stable sent out last week.
TRACK BIAS REPORT
Power of Snunner won the Obeah at Delaware Park. Photo by Kathleen O’Leary.
- 07/10 – The track was speed and up close chaser favorable on Monday’s card and while the surface rigth along the rail was still a bit heavy the inner portion of the strip seemed to be the preferred place to race.
- 07/12 – Wednesday’s surface was much like Monday’s with speed and up-close runners having the most success. The best part of the strip looked to be from the two through four paths.
- 07/13 – The surface changed complexion on Thursday as stalkers and closers had a plus-two advantage. The best part of the strip to race over also changed as horses racing from the middle of the track to the outside seemed to have the advantage, especially through the stretch.
- 07/15 – The strip still favored stalkers and late runners on the DelCap card and again, horses racing from the middle portion of the surface to the outside found the most success. This less-than-lightning fast surface would appear to have been at least part of the reason why Songbird had to work so hard to win the DelCap at 1-9 in her second start of the year.
