Delaware Park horses to watch: June 2, 2018

by | Jun 2, 2018 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has an eight-race Saturday card, with the finale for Arabians; post time is 1:15 p.m. Delaware is off the turf today, impacting races three and five. The seventh is the feature, a third-level allowance/optional claiming event going a mile on the main track. The field:

  1. Name Changer (5-2): Goldberg trainee made his first start in 11 months a winning one last out at PRX; G2-placed runner took the ’16 edition of the Dickie Small Stakes at LRL, has plenty of back class here and can move forward off last
  2. Even Thunder (6-1): Trainer Ness already on the board at a track he’s largely dominated in recent years; turf try last out wasn’t much to write home about, but looks like it was just dislike of the surface; last couple on the main track make him a player here
  3. Final Prospect (8-1): In for the tag for trainer Gary Capuano; find it notable he’s wheeling back on less than 10 days rest after middling effort on synthetic at PID; has had his moments, as $285k in the bank would suggest, but doesn’t win much — just four times in 38 starts
  4. Rafting (9-5): Scratched
  5. Believe in Luck (8-1): Back-to-back big efforts in allowance tests to kick off ’18, but last two are just so-so; finished behind #1 here last out and behind #2 here two back; wouldn’t be a surprise to see rider Rose try to put this one a little closer to the action early
  6. Twocubanbrothersu (7-2): Eight-year-old veteran loves to win (23 times in his career, nearly $400k banked), and while often at lower levels than this, he did defeat similar in October and followed that up with a Claiming Crown victory; just missed vs. scratched favorite in here two back; loves the distance and the strip

Selections

  1. #6 Twocubanbrothersu (7-2): Controlling speed here and should be tough to reel in
  2. #3 Final Prospect (8-1): Quick turnaround suggests healthy horse; two-back try was solid vs. runner who just missed in G3 company in follow-up
  3. #1 Name Changer (5-2): Back class and useful return to action

 

 

ARABIAN WATCH

Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line

Today’s Arabian race is a maiden claiming event for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up going 5 1/2 furlongs. Cre Run Enterprises and Lynn Ashby, who had the winners of the first two races of the meet, do not have an entry here, which would’ve been an obvious go-to.

Of the seven starters, three are first-timers, including two well-bred horses, Andaka and Marsanne MHF, from owner Mandolynn Hill Farm and trainer Simon Hobson. Omega CS has managed one second and two thirds from 15 lifetime starts and is the most experienced runner in the field. Foxy Roxy and Kkat Ballou are unplaced in one and two starts respectively, but they are both expected to improve off of those initial starts and could figure in the top three.