Race #1 Picks: 7-6-5-4

Delaware Park starts the 2023 meet with this $12,500 maiden claiming race at one mile.  #7 Marcus Junius (8-1) held his own in last at Laurel after a 413-day layoff. He should improve today and has a chance to surprise at a decent price. #6 Curteis (3-2) has been dull in most of his twelve lifetime starts but is getting class relief today and should be competitive against an extremely weak field. Will have Delaware Park’s 2022 Jockey title winner on board. #5 Gaming Soul (5-1) has shown a flash of early speed in his last two and will look to maintain that pace this time.

Race #2 Picks: 3-2-1-5

In this $6250 claiming race for N2L at one mile, #3 Smarthumor (3-2) has been competitive at the $8000 claiming level and is taking a class drop. Speed figures are superior to others in here. #2 Sidney’s Bid (9-5) is usually competitive but lacks the speed to make a late winning kick. Should be in the mix again today.  #1 The Colora Kid (8-1) appeared to have some talent when running at Delaware in the maiden ranks last year but has fallen on hard times since then. At a level now where he should be competitive in the hands of last year’s top trainer.

Race #3 Picks: 5-8-7-10

In this $38,000 maiden special weight for fillies and mares at one mile and 70 yards on the turf, #5 Creole (6-1) will be trying turf for the first time and first-time Lasix. She has been working well at Laurel. Trainer Brittany Russell wins at a 32% clip with a $2.15 ROI when bringing horses back from a 60–180-day layoff. #8 Ragtime Belle (5-2) is coming in from Keeneland where she rallied against better in last. She tends to get off to very slow starts, and if she can get a decent break today, she should be tough for this field to handle. #7 Sun Bee (9-5) just missed in last against similar runners at Tampa. Has the figures to be in the mix today.

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Race #4 Picks: 3-2-1-4

In this $10,000 claiming race at one mile and 70 yards #3 Omati (8-5) is a speedster who has had success on the Delaware oval with three wins, one second, and one third in eight tries. If the track is favorable to speed on opening day, he could take this event gate to wire. #2 Mystic Link (3-2) is a seven-year-old who has shown he knows how to win. He has last season’s top trainer/jockey combo on his side and will be in the mix. #1 Maythehorsebwithu( 5-1) has had some success at Parx recently and should get a small piece of the action. Ness has had some longshot winners when using Concepcion, and this one might be worth a longshot win wager.

Race #6 Picks: 4-5-7-6

In this $38,000 maiden special weight for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs, all the top contenders have had significant time away since their last start. As a result, this race is wide open. #4 Parish Belle (9-5) is making her first start for Jamie Ness and can make an impact if she can run back to her Churchill Downs form. If she gets free early, she will be tough to catch. #5 Fly High (8-5) has had a couple of decent recent works and will try this group after running evenly against much better at Belmont last summer. #7 Marvelette (5-2) will try this group after an eight-month break since being very dull in her debut against better at Churchill Downs. Her workouts have not been impressive.

Race #7 Picks:  11-3-1-10

In this $16,000 starter allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, #11 Bode’s Maker (5-2) won consistently at this level last year, and now with a conditioning race under his belt this year, he will look to return to that form. Today we will find out if this eight-year-old still has any gas left in his tank. #3 Kobla Mas (10-1) has some of the better speed figures on the turf of the horses in this event and will be in the mix if he can run back to those races. He’s been running regularly without a break which is a positive. #1 Royal Luck (12-1) won in February before tiring at 1 3/8 miles in his most recent start. He has some good workouts and may surprise today. 

Race #8 Picks: 2-8-5-7

In this $8000 Starter Allowance for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs, we are going to put #2 R Averie Lynn (9-2) on top. This mare is a horse for the course with five wins and three second place finishes in eight starts at Delaware. She struggles to win at other tracks but loves the Delaware Park oval.   #8 Prospera (6-1) will be in the mix. Parx shippers usually do well at Delaware, and this one has early speed, which should hold with this field. This mare has won two-of-five lifetime at this distance. #5 Cabra Chica (10-1) finished ahead of Prospera three back and will be battling with her for one of the top spots again today.