Delaware Park horses to watch: June 30, 2018

by | Jun 30, 2018 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has nine races on tap for its June 30 card, and the finale is for Arabians. Post time is 1:15 p.m. Here are some horses to watch:

Race 5 – Maiden special weight

  • Fillies and mares three and up will go a mile on the turf in this $34,000 contest.
  • A pair of firsters bear special attention.
  • #2 Monhegan (10-1) is a daughter of English Channel set to make her debut for trainer Michael Matz. She has a lengthy string of works, just about every seven days beginning March 18. English Channel is a top turf sire, and this miss is out of the Kris S. mare Wiscasset, which makes her a half-sister to the graded stakes winner Coal Play, who earned over a half-million dollars. She’s certainly bred for success; Ryan Powell will ride.
  • Speaking of bred for success, #4 Pearl Power (10-1) certainly has that look, too. She’s a three-year-old homebred for Stronach Stables, a daughter of Animal Kingdom out of the multiple graded stakes winner Honey Ryder, who twice finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Honey Ryder hasn’t yet produced a horse of much consequence, and Pearl Power’s work tab is a bit spotty. Still, it’s interesting to see Edgar Prado show up on this runner, and while trainer Jose Corrales doesn’t have a great record with firsters, he’s been known to spring a surprise or two.
  • Selections: 4-6-1-2

 

Race 8 – Allowance/optional claiming

  • Three-year-olds and up will go 1 1/16 miles on the main trackin a third-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $65,000.
  • A couple of interesting veterans show up in this spot.
  • #1 Charitable Annuity (8-1) looks, at age six, to have lost a step or two from the form that’s brought him $864,000 in career earnings and two wins in the West Virginia Breeders Classic. Or has he? Two of his three defeats this year were at seven furlongs at Charles Town, which is a bit short for him, and the third came over a sloppy strip he may not have liked (he’s 0-for-3 on off tracks). He should catch a fast track today, and rider Christian Hiraldo makes the journey with him. If he’s going to bounce back to try to defend his WVBC title, this wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
  • #2 Afleet Willy (9-5) set the Delaware Park track record at a mile 70 yards last September, so he certainly likes the DelPark racing strip, and he was in terrific form until his last. That last — in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special — was something of a mess, a 13-length defeat over a sloppy strip. The cutback in distance ought to help, he’s showing a couple of works in the meantime, trainer Claudio Gonzalez is 7-for-11 at the meet, and regular pilot Jomar Torres comes in to ride. A return to his better form would make him a handful here.
  • Selections: 2-1-5

ARABIAN WATCH

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

We have had quite a few maiden races recently so it’s no surprise that we have a fillies and mares, non-winners of two scheduled for today. It is an evenly matched field that will be racing one mile. The probably favorite will be Fortaissa who was impressive breaking her maiden three weeks ago. Risky Vaz has been off for a while, but she could also finish in the top three. You can’t look past any Keibar Coa mount and today he is aboard Mark Powell’s Foxy Roxy.