Delaware Park 2018 horses to watch: August 1

by | Aug 1, 2018 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has a nine-race card slated for Wednesday, August 1, 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

  • Three-year-olds and up will go five furlongs on the turf in a second-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $30,000.
  • On paper, the last race for #2 Jarvis Steel (15-1) doesn’t look like much: a well-beaten third against Maryland-bred allowance foes. But take a second look: the five-year-old Medallist gelding dueled for the lead in fast fractions in the early going with 3-2 favorite Expedited Vision, disposed of that rival (Expedited Vision ended up last), and led past the furlong grounds before the ultra-speedy Dirty swept on by to the win and Oldies But Goodies nipped him late for the place. In this spot, he’ll benefit from the shorter, five-furlong trip (versus 5 1/2 at Laurel) and will be making his third start off a five-month layoff. Trainer Ferris Allen will leg up Kali Francois.
  • Selections: 2-3-4-9

 

Race 8 – Maiden special weight

  • Fillies and mares three and up will go a mile and 70 yards on the turf.
  • In a race full of well-bred hopefuls, #4 Affagato (8-1) doesn’t need to take a back seat to anyone: she’s a three-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment who has given birth to a stakes winner from two runners. This Godolphin homebred, trained by Tom Albertrani, has been training steadily, if not particularly fast, up in Saratoga. That breeding certainly says she’s one to keep an eye on. In terms of wagering, however, there are red flags: for one thing, Albertrani’s middling four percent win rate with first-time starters. And then there’s this question: why is she here at all? If they thought she were a killer, she’d likely debut at the Spa, where maiden special weight races carry a $90,000 purse, versus the $34,000 on offer here. Verdict: watch this miss, but keep your wagering powder dry for the moment.
  • Selections: 3-5-11-4

 

 

ARABIAN WATCH

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

The final race today is a 6-furlong claiming race for the Arabians. They are all in for a tag of $10,000 or $12,500, and it is a full, competitive field. Mark Powell’s Lil Dude AA is the morning line favorite based on his second place finish last time out. If he runs his race he should be in the top three. Desert Honour is making his third start off a layoff, and he’s been improving in each race with a fifth and then a second in allowance company. Burn Notice MC has been finishing in the top four and would be worth considering in a superfecta wager. Chndakasexpress has not run to his previous form, but gets Keibar Coa, who has been having another excellent year with the Arabians, aboard in this race so he may be a factor.