Factor It In heads wide-open Strike Your Colors
Off at Delaware Park. Photo © www.HoofprintsInc.com.
by Frank Vespe
A week ago, a pair of fleet young fillies took center stage when Jaywalk ran down Congrats Gal to win the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park.
On August 29, it’ll be the boys’ turn.
Eight colts and geldings are set to face the starter in the $50,000, 5 1/2-furlong Strike Your Colors, and with six of the eight lined between 2-1 and 8-1, there are a lot of ways to go in this one.
Trainer John Servis won the White Clay Creek last week, and he looks to have a big shot here, as well, as he will send out the morning line favorite, Factor It In (2-1). The colt by — of course — The Factor is owned by DJ Stable and was a $75,000 auction purchase as a yearling at Keeneland. He broke his maiden at first asking in a maiden allowance at Parx Racing, earning an Equibase speed figure of 80. Frankie Pennington will be in to ride.
The race includes a trio of Maryland-bred runners, and one of those, Absolved, is the morning line second choice at 7-2. Coming from the powerful Claudio Gonzalez barn, the Blame colt, owned by Two Rivers Racing Stable and BB Horses, took three cracks to break his maiden, doing so last out, July 14, by a couple lengths at Laurel Park. Gonzalez will leg up Kevin Gomez.
Another of those Maryland-breds, the Jerry Robb trainee Lippi Lorenzo (6-1), also broke his maiden last out — thought that was at Pimlico back in May when he won by three lengths. In his first start, at Laurel, he ran fifth in what was probably the best juvenile race contested in Maryland this year, producing next-out Tremont Stakes winner Our Braintrust; next-out maiden-breaker Tybalt, later second in the Tyro at Monmouth Park; and another next-out winner. Mario Pino will ride.
Four runners — Aspect (8-1) for trainer Tim Ritchey, Sapphire Shilling (5-1) for Ron Potts, Absolved and Lippi Lorenzo — are Delaware-certified.
The Strike Your Colors will go as race seven with a post time of 4:15 p.m.
ARABIAN WATCH
Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.
