Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 8, 2024

Picks and analysis for this afternoon’s card from Delaware Park:

  • DATE: July 8, 2024, 12:30 p.m. first post
  • RACES ON CARD: 10
  • CARRYOVERSNone

RACE 1

5. MurumbiBested similar last out, and winner of two-back try, when this one was runner-up, moved up to $12,500 claiming to win in next start
4. Viking QueenSwitches into Simone barn (20% first after the claim) and gets top local pilot Rodriguez up after middling try versus similar in last; two-back effort very good on speed-favoring day
3. Angelas Party GirlSpeedy sort gacked up long lead in last; has mostly kept better company

COMPUTER PICKS

  • Strongest favorite: Petingas Twin (R3, 2-1 ML)
  • Longest shot: Abundant Life (R2, 9-2)

RACE 2ON THE TURF

12. Mary KatherineHas kept better company; makes third start off the bench and picks up ship-in rider Castellano for this affair
8. Abundant LifeTired late in last in oddly run affair in which she was the first to move after breakaway leader; note solid career debut last September
9. April AprilGets blinkers on after solid outing with a somewhat troubled stretch run; winner returned to win versus never-won-three rivals

RACE 3

4. Petingas TwinSophomore on a major heater with back-to-back dominant wins; a repeat of either wins here
2. The Bullion BomberSwitches into Jacobson barn (11-for-70 first after the claim) after runner-up try against open $25k claimers at Santa Anita
6. Run PoppyWilling effort in last chasing 4-5 favorite; makes third start off the bench

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!

RACE 4ON THE TURF

3. Distorted d’OroDebut win came over $550k Frankel filly while rest were well back
1. YattaLasix on for season bow; has kept better company
8. Just GreatImproved try last out when switched to the lawn for first time

RACE 5

4. Sunny BreezeGraduated with flying colors
5. Yo Yo CandyGrade 3 winner in for the tag after disappointing tries versus better
3. Rainy SkiesGradually moving forward while climbing class ladder

RACING NOTES

RACE 6CHRISTIANA STAKES (ON THE TURF)

5. Whiskey DecisionDaughter of top sire Into Mischief sure took to the turf, absolutely laying waste to a Churchill allowance field, getting the last 5/16 in under 30 seconds
10. Style PointsOnly defeats outside of her debut have come when second in G3 company; none of five to run back from KEE allowance win has won follow-up
4. Belle of RightsGood-looking score in last after picking her way through traffic on the turn and accelerating clear in the lane; makes stakes debut here, and rider Boyce remains aboard
2. SourceRallied smartly to finish second behind #4 here in North American bow; full sis to a Grade 3 winner, so quality bloodlines are there; a better break would aid the cause

RACE 7ALAPOCAS RUN STAKES

5. Super ChowMay be pressed on the lead early but with three graded wins in his last four, he’s used to the pressure; loves this six-furlong trip (7-for-12)
1. Prince of JerichoThe suspicion is this one prefers seven-eighths or even a one-turn mile to this trip, but he gave a good account of himself when third behind top choice in the Maryland Sprint, and he was second last year in the G3 Chick Lang, also at 6f; likely to be well back in the early running and try to make one big run
7. Dean DeliversHuge effort in last when up on hot early pace before pulling away; repeat puts him right there, though that was on a sloppy surface he seemed to enjoy, and the last time he ran as well on a fast track was over a year ago
8. Sir WellingtonDelaware lover won nicely over the strip two back for his third win in five local outings and fifth at this six-furlong trip in a race that produced two next-out winners; up against it last out in a short field at LRL when the speedy Rominski made all the running by himself but may well get a contentious pace today to help unleash his late stride; jockey-trainer combo have been lethal at DEL

RACE 8KENT STAKES (ON THE TURF)

9. Spirit PrinceNever worse than third in six career outings and got graduation score in stakes company, in the Central Park last fall; useful return to action last out when a good second at the Spa behind $475k Brad Cox trainee; tactical enough to make a good trip
2. St James the GreatBlinkers come off a runner who didn’t run badly at all last out when fifth in the G2 Pennine Ridge; has some tactical speed , and maiden score was at nine furlongs, so this elongated trip ought not be beyond him; a more tucked-in trip may aid the cause; has caught tough rivals repeatedly, including multiple G3 winner Neat, stakes winner and G2-placed Fulmineo, and last out winner Legend of Time, running in G1 company this weekend
5. Triple EspressoThere’s some talent here and ultra-high-end connections; was just a head behind subsequent Preakness winner Seize the Grey when fourth in the Jeff Ruby on the synthetic at Turfway; last was disappointing as he never factored
8. DesvioMaybe it was the boggy Pimlico turf or maybe the chance to go two turns on the lawn, but this one delivered in a big way on the Preakness undercard; that race has produced two next-out winners and a runner-up from four to return on turf

RACE 9G3 DELAWARE OAKS

7. SidamaraNot sure what this Mott-trained daughter of Arrogate has beaten — none of eight to run back from her last has won since — but she’s done it the right way; mile time in her most recent allowance outing was just 0.30 seconds slower than the mile time for the Kentucky Oaks conducted later on same card; catches toughest challenge yet
2. Call Another PlayGetting better by the start and was well clear of the rest when third in G2 Black-Eyed Susan; the winner of that race, Gun Song, was well beaten by #3 in here; in a race light on speed, this one may be sitting in the catbird seat as they turn for home
3. Power SqueezeGrade 2 winner was a credible third last out behind rocket ship divisional leader Thorpedo Anna; may have some work to do late; her best wins here most likely, though she has had a habit of alternating good and bad performances, which might make you wonder if she bounces in this spot…
5. Princess IndyNothing wrong with her season bow last out when second to hard-knocking Continentalcongres in LRL allowance test, and she previously won going two turns in the Sorority at MTH; major class test in this spot, but with #6 expected to scratch after running July 4, this one might grab the lead and take ’em as far as she can

RACE 10 ON THE TURF

9. Toy CollectorJust missed after setting slow pace in debut outing; got final quarter in a sharp 23.22 seconds but could not withstand rival
3. RashmiTrainer Thomas is 3-for-6 with debut runners in special weight company here; sire Oscar Performance very productive
1. Star AniseBid up to nearly even terms with top choice with a quarter to go last out but could not go on with her

LATEST NEWS