Delaware Park horses to watch: August 23

by | Aug 23, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park’s 10-race Wednesday afternoon card features nine for Thoroughbreds and one, the last, for Arabians. Post time is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:

  • The fifth is a maiden special weight on the turf for two-year-old fillies, and it looks to be a wide open affair. If none of the also-eligibles draw in, the morning line favorite is Ms. Rubin (5-1), who was well beaten after breaking slowly on debut but has been well bet in both career races. If she draws in off the also-eligible list, Vibrant Spirit (9-2) will likely go off the bettors’ choice. A couple of other runners are worth a look, too, chief among them Blame Henny. Blame Henny (10-1) comes from the Michael Matz barn, which doesn’t score all that often with first starters — but when it does, they pay. Matz has a positive ROI with debut runners. This miss is by hot sire Blame out of the Hennessy mare Aunt Henny, who was a graded stakes winner on the turf and whose offspring include Schoodic, a graded stakes winner over jumps.
  • The eighth is a $38,000 allowance/optional claimer with a $30,000 tag for fillies and mares three-year-old and up going a flat mile on the main track, and it’s a really interesting field. The horse we’re watching (though not necessarily wagering on, depending on final odds) is You Know Too (7-5). When last seen at Delaware, You Know Too, trained by Mike Gorham, was finishing fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. She ran a big one that day, suffering a less than perfect trip but still slugging it out to the end; winner It Tiz Well returned last week to be second in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. Regular pilot Alex Cintron remains aboard in what will be the Colonel John filly’s first try against her elders.

ARABIAN WATCH

Arabian handicapping provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.

A competitive field of 7 fillies and mares goes postward in a $10,000 claiming race at six furlongs. Risky Red was entered in the race on Monday. As of this writing, I’m not sure if she’s running in one or both races. If she’s in this race she is going to be tough to beat. Junia is coming off a second place finish and could finish in the top 3. Miss Paradise surprised in her last start – finishing second. A similar effort will put her right in the mix of things.