Delaware Park 2019 horses to watch: May 27
by Frank Vespe
Delaware Park has an eight-race holiday card on tap today, including a couple of allowance tests. Some horses to watch:
Race 5 – Maiden claiming
- Maidens three-years-old and up at the $25,000 claiming level will go one mile on the turf.
- In his first try on turf, two races ago, #3 Mead Avenue (20-1) was about a million lengths off the pace in the first three quarters but was absolutely flying at the end. He followed that up with a credible try against $40,000 maidens at Laurel, and the runner-up from that race graduated next out. Here today, the Cesar Nambo trainee drops back down a level, which figures to help his cause, and if the jockey can get him just a tad more involved early on, that may allow him to showcase his late run to best advantage. Jose Betancourt will ride.
- Selections: 3-4-7-6
Race 7 – Allowance
- Fillies and mares three years old and up will go a mile 70 yards on the turf in a first-level allowance.
- The Graham Motion trainee #4 Desert Isle (2-1) is certainly bred to be a star. She’s a daughter of Bernardini and a half-sister to three stakes winners, includng the multiple graded winner Deceptive Vision. It hasn’t quite worked out for her yet, though, as she has a single win from seven career starts. Two back she was a decent fourth in the Carolene Stakes at Woodbine behind the mutliple graded stakes-placed Dixie Moon, and last out she was an even fifth in a Keeneland allowance. The Graham Motion trainee probably will appreciate the class relief on offer here, and she makes her second start of 2019. Wes Hamilton will ride.
- In her first career start, #6 Venetian Princess (9-2) certainly displayed an affinity for the green stuff, rallying three-wide to win going away in a Tampa maiden event. Her follow-up was a mess — she finished fifth of six — but that was over a sloppy, sealed main track at Gulfstream. Switched back onto the lawn, she ought to be able to move forward here for trainer Keith Nations. Alex Cintron will ride.
- Selections: 6-4-3-1
Arabian Watch
Thanks to Stephanie Ruff and Arabian Finish Line for giving us insights to the Arabian racing at Delaware Park.
No Arabian race today.
What happened to the horses yesterday that did not finish. They did not announce conditions. I heard that one horse had to be put down. Why is this not news worthy? Appreciate info,
Thanx
Russ