Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 30, 2023
Joe Parisi- August 30, 2023
Live racing at Delaware Park kicks off May 24 and runs through late October.
Once again this year, we will have Delaware Park picks and analysis for every day of live racing at the venerable track. Today’s card features eight races, and first post is 12:30 EDT.
Today’s carryovers: None
Race #1 Picks: 1-2-6-3
In this $6250 maiden claiming race for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs, #1 Home Town Fav (6-1) improved in her second try and may improve again today. She will go off at decent odds and there will be some value in this horse. #2 Sk’s Heart (3-2) ran well last time for new trainer Nesvil Bailon. She seems to be rounding into form and is a top contender today. #6 Savannah’s Sugar (5-2) has been running on the turf without success but is now dropping and making a surface switch to dirt. The change might wake her up.
Race #2 Picks: 3-2-5-7
In this $7500 N2L claiming race at one mile, #3 Marcus Junius (3-1) has been showing early speed and is working his way down the claiming ladder. We look for further improvement today and have him on top. #2 Keranos (2-1) is dropping down to $6250 after trying $16,000 claimers. He was competitive at that level with three straight second-place finishes. Trainer James Lawrence wins at 23% in 53 tries when his horses drop in claiming price by 50% or more. #5 Ruthenian (4-1) only has one win in fifteen lifetime starts but has been in the mix since dropping to this level.
Race #3 Picks: 7-9-8-5 (Dirt Picks: 7-10-11-2)
In this $16,000 maiden claiming race at one mile on the turf, #7 Double O Otto (10-1) has been trying to run on the grass, but the races have been taken off in the last three. This horse has shown some closing ability on the turf and could surprise against this weak field if the race stays on the turf. #9 Casino Tricks (12-1) makes his career bow, andLynn Ashby usually has them ready to run in their debuts, winning at 29% in 17 tries for a $4.84 ROI. This colt has been working well and does not have any monsters to beat today. #8 Huntington (5-1) has showed some speed in his last two on the grass and may be hard to catch today if he gets a clear lead.
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Race #4 Picks: 1-5-6-2
In this optional claiming/second-level allowance race for fillies and mares at one mile and 70 yards, #1 Awesome Pic (5-1) ran very well last time in her first attempt at running a route. She is facing a slightly tougher field today but she has shown she can run routes at Delaware Park and we think she will improve again today. #5 Halo City (2-1) has been running well in New York, including a second-place finish in $32,000 claiming race at Saratoga. She has not won since 2021 but looks well positioned today. #6 Out of Sorts (3-1) had the lead but faltered in a starter allowance in her first start at Delaware. She does have some class, and her speed figures look very competitive with this group.
Race #5 Picks: 6-1-8-2
In this $25,000 maiden claiming race for two-year-olds at six furlongs, #6 Kick Startness (2-1) ran evenly in a $50,000 claiming race, and now Jamie Ness is switching to his Delaware go-to jockey Jaime Rodriguez. He has been working well since his last start and we think he will prevail today. #1 Yahoo Omar (8-1) has been working well with a couple five-furlong workouts. Trainer Andy Simoff has three wins in thirteen starts when debuting maiden claimers. #8 Tapicoral (3-1) just missed when he dropped down to $20,000 last time. A repeat of that race will put him in the mix today.
Joe’s Notes
- Trainer Jamie Ness won with five of 10 starters last week and continues to widen his lead in the standings…
- Jaime Rodriguez won four times on the week, while Kevin Gomez won three. Rodriguez has 38 wins at the meet, putting him five ahead of Daniel Centeno and six in front of Gomez…
Race #6 Picks: 13-9-10-2 (Dirt Picks 9-3-4-5)
In this $16,000 N2L claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, if #13 Proper Storm (8-1) draws in, she has a good shot today. She’s a deep closer who has been making late runs in the stretch in Maryland. This will be Tim Keefe’s first starter at Delaware this year and we have this mare on top, though do note she is a mare takin on the boys. #9 Husband Material (5-1) ran evenly against much better horses in turf races in Florida and Maryland. If he repeats those races she has a shot at defeating this field. #10 Bunker Hill (6-1) will be making his third start after leaving the maiden ranks and is also dropping down to a level where he should be able to compete.
Race #7 Picks: 6-7-4-5
In this allowance/optional claiming race at six furlongs, #6 Runaway Jack (7-2) has won two straight at Delaware and is may improve again. Has not raced since June but has been working well. If he is fit and ready he should be a top contender today. #7 Jeopardy James (5-2) was running well in Florida before coming to Delaware. He has one win and two second-place finishes in five attempts at Delaware and fits well here. #4 Starburst (8-1) is a speedster who will try to lead from starting gate to finish line. He’s the one they will be chasing, and Delaware is a speed favoring track so this might work today.
Race #8 Picks: 5-6-1-7
In this $12,500 claiming race at one mile and 70 yards, #5 Musical Heart (9-5) is winless this year, but this might be a soft enough field for him to get his first victory. He was holding his own in New York before a disappointing effort at Penn National, but if he can match the race he had at Saratoga, he should win today. #6 City Rage (9-2) has been facing tougher at Parx and horses that come from Parx usually run well at Delaware. Another horse that is winless this year but may have found a good spot. #1 Just Plain Ornery (8-1) has lots of early speed and the one the others will be chasing. He usually finishes with the leaders and that should continue today.
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