DELAWARE PARK PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: SEPT. 1

Elate
Elate was much the best in the 2019 Delaware Handicap. Photo by Allison Janezic.

Delaware Park has an 8-race card on tap for this Wednesday afternoon. Post time for the opener is 1:15 p.m., and we’ve got Delaware Park picks.

How’d we do last time at Delaware Park?

RACE NUMBERHORSESCOMMENTS
Race 42We’re inclined to single in here with the favorite, #2 Skyscanner (8-5). The O’Dwyer trainee ran a big one last time he visited DelPark when second against similar. O’Dwyer added blinks for his next start, in the Pegasus at MTH, and that appears to have been the wrong answer; the blinks come off today. And anyway, the waters might have been a bit deep that day; winner Pneumatic looks to be pretty good, In that two back start here, this one was wide on both turns, led in the lane, and just missed. He’ll be fitter today and should sit the right trip off a couple of speeds… If you’re looking to beat the fave, one perhaps negative sign is that Angel Suarez, who rode him last time here, has jumped ship to #6 Hauntedbythemusic (2-1), who ran a big one last out against similar despite a challenging trip. The question here is the distance: sire The Big Beast was a sprinter, this one’s dam was a sprinter, and all of his sibs have been sprinters. He figures to be speed of the speed here, but it seems likely #5 The Stifler (7-2) won’t let him get away easy…#1 Dig Charlie Dig (9-2) enters in good form but is taking a step up class-wise…
Race 52, 3, 4, 6This is some kind of interesting bottom-level maiden race — no, seriously.. It features a first-time starter who’s five years old — and another who’s six. It also includes two runners making their debuts who at one time in their lives sold for six figures but now can be yours for the low, low price of $5,000. The favorite in here is #2 Purrs Again (3-2), and off a credible race last out at the $16,000 level, that’s deserved. But she’s 0-for-28, and we can’t endorse short odds on a horse with that kind of record, particularly one who’s lost at the bottom before… A more attractive proposition is #4 Youreoutofcontrol (5-2), who drops after facing better last out; two back, at this level, she led a long way before settling for third… Not a good race here, so you’d be well served considering first-timers, including #6 Cairo Comet (5-1). The Jamie Ness trainee brought $340,000 (gulp!) as a yearling, but Ness grabbed her for just $15,000 this past February. He has a decent record with first-timers in MCL company… And why not throw in the Christy Claggett-trained #3 Panna Mine (8-1). Barry Schwartz dropped $100k on this one when she was a yearling — five long years ago. She’s showing three 5f works in preparation…
Race 85, 6There’s a distinct chance in here that the two favorites — #1 Private Party (5-2) and #3 Uplifting (9-5) get to slugging it out on the front end in this spot and set it up for a more tactical runner. One obvious horse who fits that bill is the veteran #6 Ray’swarrior (7-2), a 10-time winner in his career who ships in for trainer Kelly Breen on a two-race win streak… A better price is available on #5 Factor This In (8-1). The Jamie Ness trainee didn’t run especially well last time — he finished behind Private Party — but the track was favoring inside speed that day, which did him no favors. This is his second off a five-month break, and it’s a positive that, though he ran a clunker last time, Ness stays in starter company with him. Look for an improved effort today.
WAGERING…A $1.00 Pick 3 using all of these will set you back $8.00.

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