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
- CARRYOVERS:Â None
RACE 1
5. Murumbi | Bested 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 Queen | Switches 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 Girl | Speedy sort gacked up long lead in last; has mostly kept better company |
- Strongest favorite: Petingas Twin (R3, 2-1 ML)
- Longest shot: Abundant Life (R2, 9-2)
RACE 2 – ON THE TURF
12. Mary Katherine | Has kept better company; makes third start off the bench and picks up ship-in rider Castellano for this affair |
8. Abundant Life | Tired 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 April | Gets blinkers on after solid outing with a somewhat troubled stretch run; winner returned to win versus never-won-three rivals |
RACE 3
4. Petingas Twin | Sophomore on a major heater with back-to-back dominant wins; a repeat of either wins here |
2. The Bullion Bomber | Switches into Jacobson barn (11-for-70 first after the claim) after runner-up try against open $25k claimers at Santa Anita |
6. Run Poppy | Willing effort in last chasing 4-5 favorite; makes third start off the bench |
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
RACE 4 – ON THE TURF
3. Distorted d’Oro | Debut win came over $550k Frankel filly while rest were well back |
1. Yatta | Lasix on for season bow; has kept better company |
8. Just Great | Improved try last out when switched to the lawn for first time |
RACE 5
4. Sunny Breeze | Graduated with flying colors |
5. Yo Yo Candy | Grade 3 winner in for the tag after disappointing tries versus better |
3. Rainy Skies | Gradually moving forward while climbing class ladder |
RACING NOTES
- Today’s card was moved, in its entirety, from Saturday, which was canceled because of the heat…
- Jockey Jose Ortiz won the Delaware Handicap for a record-tying fourth time. It was one of his two wins on the day…
- Nice-looking score by War Like Goddess against a pretty rugged group in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial. The seven-year-old is creeping up on $3 million in earnings…
RACE 6 – CHRISTIANA STAKES (ON THE TURF)
5. Whiskey Decision | Daughter 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 Points | Only 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 Rights | Good-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. Source | Rallied 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 7– ALAPOCAS RUN STAKES
5. Super Chow | May 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 Jericho | The 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 Delivers | Huge 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 Wellington | Delaware 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 8 – KENT STAKES (ON THE TURF)
9. Spirit Prince | Never 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 Great | Blinkers 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 Espresso | There’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. Desvio | Maybe 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 9 – G3 DELAWARE OAKS
7. Sidamara | Not 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 Play | Getting 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 Squeeze | Grade 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 Indy | Nothing 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 Collector | Just missed after setting slow pace in debut outing; got final quarter in a sharp 23.22 seconds but could not withstand rival |
3. Rashmi | Trainer Thomas is 3-for-6 with debut runners in special weight company here; sire Oscar Performance very productive |
1. Star Anise | Bid up to nearly even terms with top choice with a quarter to go last out but could not go on with her |
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