Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 1, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 1, 2024

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

RACE 1

1. Out of Luck	Could be a repeat of most recent dirt try when she parlayed the rail draw into a clear lead and drew off; turf tries suggest she’s kept her form
8. Boh’s N O’s	Trainer Pecoraro wins at a 36% clip with a positive ROI when dropping horses signficantly in class
4. Always Connected	Robles remains aboard after back-to-back solid outings; won’t have free rein up front as she did in latest

RACE 2

1. Positively Awesome	Leaves from the rail and looms controlling speed in a race surprisingly short on early lick
3. Spotted Bull	Willing try in latest after slow break, but that’s been a bit of an issue with him of late; likely to get bet down from morning line
8. Pistol Or Shotgun	Even effort versus better last out, now returns to more manageable group

RACE 3

9. My Blessing	Narrowly beat special weight foes in latest and should be a handful here if drawing in
2. Payout Ratio	Will be in front early, and if rider can marshal his speed more judiciously, could stay around a long time
8. Heybackatcha	New trainer Bentley is 4-for-30 off similar layoffs; work tab looks fine, and most recent turf outing was excellent
1. Dreaming of Abba	Pre-race reluctance may have taken its toll late; blinks off today

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RACE 4

2. Ghost Stalker	Formful sort ran a big one in last behind 1-5 winner Mr. McQuhae
8. Angelus Warrior	Veteran has run some good races of late and lone poor outing came in a heat that produced three next-out winners, including Freedom Road, now a winner of four straight
6. Artistic Reason	Should be involved in early pace; claim was voided by the vet after last

RACE 5

8. Mungo	Decent try in latest versus much better; that race has produced three next-out winners and two others to finish in the money
11. Bourbon Express	Competitive efforts versus similar
4. Hoya	Wide both turns in latest when beaten just a couple

RACING NOTES

Good-looking debut from Cattivo Ragazzo in the opener, a waiver maiden claimer. The Great Notion gelding won by more than eight lengths in a fast 1:04.65 for 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. He’s trained by Gary Capuano for Pinochle Partners LLC and was ridden to the win by Jaime Rodriguez, one of his two wins on the day…
Smithwick’s Spice won the featured $50,000 Delaware certified allowance, zipping to the front and fending off all challenges to win by three parts of a length as the favorite. Jorge Gonzalez was up for trainer Doug Nunn and owner-breeder New Spice Stable…

RACE 6

4. Alwaysinahurry	Miles the best in latest and makes third start off the bench here; connex scratched him from Sunday’s De Francis Dash
7. Point Dume	Speedster built long lead in latest but packed it in pretty readily; should control the pace again
5. He’smyhoneybadger	Has traded hands frequently in recent starts; not sold on what he’s faced in last couple, as none from either race has finished in the money in their subsequent start

RACE 7

5. Ocean City	Useful return to action when third after leading a long way at MTH
7. Uninvited Guest	Makes third start off the bench
4. Lure Him In	Has plenty of good form to run back to and has faced better

RACE 8

6. On the Chill	Stretch out allowed him to use speed to best advantage; should control the early action again
5. Rudy Rudy Rudy	Bit of a middle move in latest
7. General J R	Won by a pole to graduate and rider Perez is here just for the one mount