Delaware Park 2019 horses to watch: September 16

Photo by HoofprintsInc.com.

Delaware Park has a nine-race card lined up for Monday, September 16, and the finale is for Arabians. Some horses to watch:

Race 3 — Allowance

Fillies and mares three and up will go one mile on the turf in a first-level allowance.
While the Mary Eppler-trained #6 I’m Listening (3-1) figures tough in here after just missing versus similar two back and following that up with an easy win against New Jersey-bred allowance rivals, let’s take a look at #7 Black Dynamite (6-1). This sophomore daughter of More Than Ready cost $350,000 at auction as a yearling, and why not? She’s a half-sister to the graded stakes winners Chocolate Ride (over $600,000 earnings) and Killer Graces (more than $450,000). She broke her maiden in her second career start, back in May, romping to an easy win at Monmouth Park. Her two subsequent starts have been less auspicious, though, an even sixth-place finish followed by a pretty awful ninth-place effort. That last, in late July, is her most recent start. But she’s been training well enough for trainer Michael Stidham, and he’s peeling the blinkers off after one poor effort with them on. Look for an improved effort with jockey Sheldon Russell getting this miss involved early.
Selections: 6-7-1-3

Fillies and mares three and up will go 1 mile 70 yards on the main track in a first-level allowance.
You don’t want to sleep on a Steve Asmussen trainee showing up at Delaware Park, like #1 Viradia (3-1). Asmussen is 4-for-7 at the current meet, with two of the three runners who didn’t win having finished in the money. We suspect Asmussen figured he would likely lose this runner the last time he came to Delaware when dropped in for $12,500, but he came home with both the horse and the winner’s share after this gal romped by a dozen lengths at 3-5 odds. It’s interesting to see Asmussen decide to take a swing at allowance company here; it’s a vote of confidence in a horse for a tag seven consecutive times. Look for rider Victor Carrasco to try to hustle this one out of the gate.
Another who’ll want to be involved early is #2 The Gospel of John (2-1). This To Honor and Serve filly broke her maiden nicely at second asking last December, but her follow-up, in March, was a disaster. She didn’t reappear until three weeks ago at Monmouth, when she led a long way before tiring in the final furlong. She should be fitter today and has every right to carry her speed farther. This is one of just two mounts on the card for Paco Lopez and just the third local start for trainer Yvon Belsoeur.
Selections: 2-7-1-3

Two-year-old maiden fillies will go 6 furlongs on the main track at the $25,000 claiming level.
This is a race that may well produce a Maryland Million Lassie starter, as six of the nine (after scratches) are Maryland-sired.
Of the horses that have run before, the top contender may well be the Mark Shuman-trained #6 Bourbon Style (7-2). The daughter of Bourbon Courage had a disastrous debut against better but improved dramatically in her follow-up, leading late before settling for second against similar at 13-1 odds. Another worth a gander is #11 Steady Love (9-2), who did not impress when debuting against better but can improve here. She’s a daughter of Buffum out of the stakes-winning Not for Love mare Steady N Love.
A couple of first-timers of note: the Jamie Ness-trained #4 Stylish Ninetynine (8-1) is a half-sibling to five winners, has been working fast in the mornings, and attracts the services of Trevor McCarthy; and #8 Ruby’s Rush (12-1), trained by Michael Gorham, is a Massachusetts-bred (!) who is a half to three winners, including the stakes winner Candy Ruby. Gorham’s been hitting over 20% with his first-time starters.
Selections: 6-4-11-8

Arabian Watch

Thanks to Stephanie Ruff and Arabian Finish Line for giving us insights to the Arabian racing at Delaware Park.