Delaware Park horses to watch: July 27
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park has a solid nine-race card today, the finale for Arabians, and first post is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:
- The third race is a maiden special weight test for two-year-olds going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. There’s a Wesley Ward trainee here in Gunny Roo (2-1), as well as the Greg Sacco-trained Real Estate Mogul (7-2), who was second on debut and figures to be tough in this spot. The horse we’re most curious about, though, is Archaggelos (8-1). The Temple City colt is out of the Nureyev mare Mien, and if that name is somehow lurking in the back of your horse racing memory, that’s because she was also the dam of dual-Classic winner Big Brown. This guy is bred to turf, but this is a tricky distance for a first start, he’ll be breaking from the rail, and trainer Michael Dickinson hasn’t done well of late with debut runners — 0-for-16 — so demand value if you’re going to wager.
- The fourth race is a $40,000 allowance test for fillies and mares three and up going a mile 70 yards on the main track. The horse we’re most intrigued by here is Claudio Gonzalez trainee Next Best Thing (7-2). The seven-year-old Stephen Got Even mare gave jockey Katie Davis her first ever stakes win back in March when she took the Conniver at Laurel Park for Maryland-breds and will have that jock in the irons again today. Last out, she returned from a two-month freshening to run second in a Parx allowance versus similar. The winner that day, Line of Best Fit, most recently finished third in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap behind the superstar Songbird.
ARABIAN WATCH
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The ninth is a $20,000 maiden claimer for Arabians going six furlongs. Kao Maloan SWA has finished 2nd in 2 starts and should step up. Sabres Edge could get a piece. The two first-time starters — DBon Temp Rouler and Bubba Tunks — have nice pedigrees and could run well if ready. Miss Ruby hasn’t shown much but has the pedigree and connections to be a winner.