Delaware Park 2018 horses to watch: July 30
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park will host an eight-race card on Monday, July 30, with the nightcap for Arabians. Post time for the card is 1:15 p.m., and here are some horses to watch:
Race 6 – Allowance/optional claiming
- Fillies and mares three and up will go five furlongs on the turf in a second-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $30,000.
- #8 Rose to Fame (9-2) won the first two races of her career as a two-year-old, both at Gulfstream, the second, in July 2017, a minor stake. She’s made just a single start since, though, getting thrashed in the Smart Halo Stakes last November at Laurel Park. This will be the sophomore Gemologist filly’s first start on grass, and trainer Michael Matz will leg up bug rider Johan Rosado. This one is showing a pattern of improving works in preparation for this test, including a half-mile breeze in 48 4/5 seconds at Fair Hill July 21, the third-fastest of 30 at the distance. We’ll be curious to see how this miss takes to the green.
- Selections: 8-2-7-4
Race 7 – Allowance/optional claiming
- Three-year-olds and up will go a mile and 70 yards on the main track in a second-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $30,000.
- Talk about making the most of your opportunities. #6 Dr. Blarney (9-5) is a Massachusetts-bred, which makes him pretty lonely these days. All the same, the Dublin gelding has made the most of his opportunities, winning 14 of 20 career starts and earning over $425,000 — including numerous Mass-bred stakes at Suffolk Downs, most often in easy fashion. Last year his wins included the Rise Jim and Last Dance stakes at that track, both by about nine lengths. So far this year he’s annexed the same pair again, the former by a dozen lengths, the latter by about four. His normal running style is on the engine, and with regular pilot Tammi Piermarini in here — and not much other speed in this compact field — that looks likely to be the case again for the Karl Grusmark trainee.
- Selections: 6-1-4
ARABIAN WATCH
Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.
Today’s Arabian race is a nice allowance race for fillies and mares going six furlongs. Three horses are coming off long layoffs – Big Girls Are Better, R B Kindle and RB Gaim Changer. They are all three quality mares, but will probably need a start over the track before rounding into their best form. However, R B Kindle has three wins in four starts and gets leading rider Carol Cedeno. If she’s ready she will be tough. Risky Red will be the probable favorite, and she is going back to the shorter distance after finishing second at 1 mile and 70 yards. Fiftyshadess Of Bay should also be right there. Last Call MHF and Pams Masquerade both have the potential to be in the top three if they run their races.