Delaware Park horses to watch: September 25
Off at Delaware Park. Photo © www.HoofprintsInc.com.
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park has a nine-race card slated for Monday, and scheduled post time is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:
- In race six, a $16,000 maiden claiming event going 1 mile 70 yards on the turf, the bettor is confronted with a pretty wide open affair in which all of the horses have holes. This is a race that feels like it could go almost any way, so there’s no reason to take a short price in here. Two that might offer value are #1 My Little Princess (15-1) and #2 Extra Salsa (20-1). The former, trained by Kenneth Westlye, has generally been keeping much better company than this, and her best efforts include a just-miss third against maiden special weight foes at Tampa. Last out, against $40,000 maiden claimers, she finished sixth, albeit beaten less than four lengths; notably, she did finish ahead of the favorite in here, Marie Joelle (3-1) that day. No reason she can’t contend here, ideally at a price. The latter, a Miranda Downing trainee, was fifth and beaten a couple lengths two back against roughly similar after a bit of trip trouble. The winner and third-place finisher both won their follow-up races, while this one ended up racing on dirt, unsuccessfully. Back to her preferred surface and receiving Lasix for the first time, she has the right to move forward and can contend here with a clean trip.
- Race eight is a first-level allowance/optional claimer going five furlongs on the turf. Getting back to her preferred surface should make a big difference for morning line favorite #5 She’s Chubs (2-1) from the Scott Lake barn; three of her last four races have been rained off the turf onto the main track. But what’s fun about the favorite? How about a look at #8 Mast Cove (6-1), from John Rigattieri’s operation. Rigattieri has had a productive Delaware Park meeting, with 13 winners and a 30 percent strike rate to date. This five-year-old mare has done her part, with a win and two seconds at Delaware this year, and three back defeated similar. Last out she finished sixth against second allowance horses, and here, dropping back into easier company, she has the right to move forward. Veteran Scott Spieth, also having a productive meeting, will be in the irons.
ARABIAN WATCH
Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.
No Arabian races at Delaware Park on Monday, September 25.
And I will throw in a long shot horse too. In the 4th race, md. 2yr old 10k-16k claiming race, I will take a flyer on Boniface homebred Petroglyphs.( a rock carving, usually prehistoric) The trainer is 0/45 with 1st time starters, so I’m not suggesting betting the mortgage! But on the positive side, there are 2 full siblings, 3 and 4, who both debut with high 30 beyers. A 40 beyer will probably win this race. There are arguably 2 of the best turf trainers in the country that have their maidens in this race. But Ward is 2/22 going msw to maiden claiming and Goldberg is a surprising 1/12 with 1st time 2yr old turf starters.