DELAWARE PARK PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: OCT. 17

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

Delaware Park has a 10-race card on tap for this Saturday, which is closing day of the 2020 meet. 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 NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 62-5-6-7Top choice #2 Successful Cure (12-1) was a mile the best last time to break his maiden… as a 5-year-old! And the field was well strung out behind. Lightbulb on? We’ll take a chance on that at decent odds… Is today the day for #5 The Stifler (9-5)? Likely not, since he’s already lost this race eight times, but he’s had a couple of recent good tries versus similar and does project to be alone on the lead… #6 Highestdistinction (5-2) has looked good on the grass and broke his maiden at Churchill. He’s a player in here, but beware horses trying something for the first time at short odds… #7 Saint Alfred (7-2) has struggled against similar but ran well last out when chasing the hard-hitting Dr. Blarney; he won’t have to deal with the likes of that one here…
Race 83-6-1-4Top choce #3 Press My Bets (4-1) was clearly best last out in a first-level allowance despite breaking slowly, can move forward today in second off a lengthy break… #6 Belle Tapisserie (2-1) was the beaten favorite last time out versus similar, but it’s worth noting that the horses that ran one-two have both run since, and both were well up the track… Not quite sure what to make of #1 Workin On a Dream (6-1), who ran a huge one two back when a near-miss second versus similar but then regressed to earlier form last out. If he can get back to that better form, he’s a major player in here; makes third start off a break… #4 Almithaar (3-1) shifts into the Velazquez barn, has a history of in-and-out form…
Race 98-2-4-6The penultimate race of the meet is a starter allowance for older horses… No shame in that runner-up effort last out by #8 Final Prospect (2-1): winner Bobby G repeated next out and now has 13 wins in 2019-20; this one was a bit farther back than usual, leaving him too much to do… Good effort to win in claiming company by the improving #2 Zaya (5-1)… Favored #4 General Paddy (8-5) has run some awfully good races without winning versus similar; he’s working on an eight-race losing streak, which makes short odds a bit tough to stomach… Look for #6 Red Again (10-1) to be up front early, but he’ll have to hold off some runners who’ve bested him recently…
Race 1011-10-7-5Are we gonna take a swing in the last race of the meet? Of course, we are… #11 Code Name Rosie (8-1) was 54-1 two back and rallied into third. Last time out, the starter still had a hold of her when the gates opened and she reared up, divested herself of the jockey (who was fine), and was declared a non-starter. What she did next was interesting, though: she rushed up on the outside, was four wide on the turn, and kept right on running, passing all her rivals, crossing the finish line first, and galloping out well ahead of all others. Yes, she did it without a jockey, but this was some kind of sustained run for a bottom-level maiden. Let’s see if she can do that with a jockey… #10 Ridgelysredhot (7-2) has been gradually moving forward and finds her lowest level yet… #7 Scamper Along (5-1) has been going in the wrong direction form-wise but shifts into the Allard barn today… First time on a dirt track today for #5 Holiday Curls (5-2), who drops to the bottom for the first time…

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