Delaware Park horses to watch: August 16

by | Aug 16, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park’s Wednesday afternoon card includes nine races for Thoroughbreds and an Arabian contest. Post time for the card is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:

  • The seventh is a a $36,000 allowance sprint on the turf that’s attracted a full field plus some also-eligibles. Uncle Leo (6-1) may be the speed of the speed here and enters with three wins in four tries on the grass. The Harry Wyner trainee easily defeated starter allowance foes last out and, with top rider Alex Cintron in the irons, rates a shot to record the hat trick. He figures to be on the engine early both because it’s his normal style and because he’s breaking from the rail. There is other speed here, though, and if the pace heats up, one horse who’d benefit is Capt. Grider (4-1). He was absolutely flying at the end of his last, rallying from the rear of the field and shaving six lengths off his deficit in the last furlong to miss by just a nose. If he’s a little more involved early, he could be tough to hold off. Daniel Centeno will ride for Kathleen Demasi. (Off the turf today at Delaware, so take the above with a grain of salt.)
  • The eighth is a $34,000 maiden special weight going six furlongs on the main track, and it’s attracted a solid group. The morning line favorite is Americana (8-5), but after nine winless tries, we’re inclined to look elsewhere. One logical spot is Survive (2-1). The Keith Nations trainee ran a big one on debut, hopping and being a bit rank at the start and then making a big move while wide on the turn before emptying out to be second. Ashley Castrenze will ride, and this one could be a handful in here. Also of interest are the two firsters: Rockadelic (6-1) for trainer Graham Motion, a Bernardini filly out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Octave whose only question mark is her auction price ($80,000 is not a lot of money for these bloodlines); and the Arnaud Delacour-trained Infuse (6-1), a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who was training forwardly last year as a two-year-old but just makes it to the races here.
  • The ninth is a $25,000 lifetime claimer going six furlongs on the main track. The morning line favorite is Runaway King (2-1), who just missed last out against lesser. But we’re intrigued by others. Forest Ranger (4-1) bested $40,000 maidens last out in a good heat from which both the runner-up and show horse followed up with victories. But he hasn’t raced since September, and trainer Gary Capuano is scoring with just six percent of long-layoff horses; still, this guy’s been working for more than two months towards this spot and more than fits with these. Ashley Castrenze will ride. Two spots farther out in the lineup is Factor This In (10-1). The son of The Factor thrashed $30,000 maidens at Parx Racing two back, and the runner-up graduated next out. His last was messy, but it was at a mile on the turf. He shows a work since that July 28 start, and getting back to sprinting on the main track should yield improvement. Ruben Silvera will ride for trainer Lou Linder.

ARABIAN WATCH

Arabian handicapping is presented by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.

Maiden fillies and mares are racing at a distance of 6 furlongs for a purse of $10,000. The stellar-bred Royally Bred is making her second start after finishing third first time out. Also making her second start is Sisazdestiny, who placed in her first race. She gets Keiber Coa aboard, who is currently the leading Arabian jockey in the U.S. RB Sand Pearl has placed once in two starts, but gets Carol Cedeno and is trained by leading trainer Jerenesto Torrez.