Delaware Park horses to watch: July 31
Off at Delaware Park. Photo © www.HoofprintsInc.com.
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park has a nine-race card today, the finale for Arabians, and first post is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:
- The seventh is a $20,000 maiden claiming event for two-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track. The likely post time favorite is Wesley Ward trainee Bangle (5-2), who was beaten just two lengths by better at Churchill Downs last out and comes from a barn that thrives with juveniles. But the horse we’re interested in today is debut runner Estrella Grande (10-1), the first-ever starter for trainer Cesar Nambo. This daughter of Friesan Fire has had some sharp works leading up to this start, and both of her sibs to race — both by Old Fashioned — won at first asking. Diego Gomez, who doesn’t win much, has the mount.
- The eighth is a $36,000 allowance test going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf, and it’s attracted a sizable, competitive field. The morning line favorite is O. K. Kay (4-1) and why not? This Jane Cibelli trainee has finished second against similar in each of her last two starts, two back falling to Judy’s Chance, whose five-race win streak came to an end yesterday when she was a good fourth at long odds in the G3 Matchmaker at Monmouth Park. Another horse worth a gander is Vienna Melody (10-1). The Arnaud Delacour trainee won at first asking at Laurel Park and has been just OK in a couple of follow-up tries but today tries the turf for the first time. The three-year-old filly is a full sis to multiple graded winner Prospective, who won a graded stakes on the synthetic track at Woodbine and in his lone turf try was beaten less than three lengths in the Grade 2 King George at the same track. Daniel Centeno will ride, and he and Delacour have scored with nine of 18 mounts in the last 60 days.
ARABIAN WATCH
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A maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up closes out the day. This is a very nice group of horses headed by the Rosebrook Farm’s entry of RB Kinkie Boots and RB Sand Pearl – both of whom have finished second in their last start for leading trainer Jerenesto Torrez. RB Wicked Rich (with the team of trainer Ken Dayluk and jockey Travis Wales) and Running Brooke also could finish well. Royally Bred, who was scratched a few weeks ago, will be making her first start. She is by Darley Horse of the Year Thoroughbred out of 5-time Darley Champion Royal Atheena. From the barn of Cre Run Enterprises LLC and trainer Lynn Ashby, it will be interesting to see how she does.
I too noticed that work and her family was trained by larry jones. I like Jamie Ness’s horse too. Dam won 1st 3 starts for Franny Campetelli,and 4/5 1/2 sibs ran very well in their 1st starts. Wish she was trained by someone else, because she will probably be 2nd choice to Ward’s horse.
Recapping the race, I was no where close. But I do feel good that I didn’t use Ward Horse!