Delaware Park 2018 horses to watch: September 8
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park has a nine-race card on tap for Saturday, September 8, with two for Arabians. Post time for the card is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:
Race 7 – Allowance/optional claiming
- Three-year-olds and up will go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in a second-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $30,000 (weather permitting).
- Three-year-old #1 Archaggelos (7-2) will drop out of stakes company here for the first time since breaking his maiden last September. The Temple City colt has made eight consecutive starts in stakes races, among them a win on the synthetic in the Grade 3 Grey at Woodbine and placings in a couple of ungraded stakes on the turf. He’s run a couple of decent races locally, finishing third in the Stanton Stakes and fourth, after leading to the furlong grounds, in the Grade 3 Kent (though he was DQed to sixth). The Michael Dickinson trainee had a bit of a tough trip last out and should appreciate getting away from stakes rivals. Mario Pino will ride.
- Two sibs of #10 Hodor (6-1) won races on the lawn, but it’s a surface this son of To Honor and Serve has yet to try. Trainer Mike Pino’s tried to get him on the lawn before, including last out, when he ran a big one to dead-heat for the win. He’ll need another big one here, but if he takes to the turf, that’s not out of the question.
- Selections: 1-4-3-10
ARABIAN WATCH
Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.
The Buzz Brauninger Arabian Distaff H. (Gr.1) gets a second chance Saturday as it did not fill last week. A field of six has been entered, with the standouts being multiple graded-stakes winner Uptown Sandy Girl and RB Kindle, who was so impressive in her only start this year. She also gets the help of leading rider Carol Cedeno who has brought home her share of Arabian winners this season. On paper at least, it looks like the rest of the field will be battling for third. Last Call MHF finished a close second in this race last year, but that was on an off track. RB Gaim Changer, Royally Bred and even Pams Masquerade are all nice horses, but look to be part of the exotic wagers. The race will go as race eight on the nine-race card.