Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 17, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 17, 2024

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

RACE 1

8. Making Bread	First-time starter for the Simoff barn, which is 6-for-27 with frosh making their debut in maiden claiming company; the dam ran second at Keeneland on debut and graduated second time out
5. Exhale	Improved try in second start when dropped into claiming ranks
4. Map to the Moon	Has faced better; winner of two-back outing returned to be third in Del certified stake Wednesday

RACE 2

2. Bad Hombre	Turf experiment didn’t work out but return to main track probably should; was on hold for much of most recent dirt try while throttled down behind moderate pace; has run well since Raven claim
4. Lucky Lucky Luke	Has plenty of prior efforts that would win this but has been going the wrong way of late
5. Seeker	Seemed to pack it in after encountering a bit of trouble in most recent; wouldn’t be surprised to see the bug boy return this one to accustomed spot leading early

RACE 3 – ON THE TURF

4. Crabcakes N Beer	Half-brother to graded stakes-placed turfer Crabs N Beer didn’t run badly in dirt debut, now (hopefully) switches to preferred surface; mile trip should help his fitness
7. Hot Stott	Allard barn has been clicking and this one is by hot young sire Complexity (6-for-20 with 2yo debut runners); couple of turf winners on the dam side
8. Soleil Volant	Karakontie a solid turf sire, and this one’s dam was stakes-placed on the green
12. Swiftlet	Unlikely to draw in but if so is from a productive barn and has two sibs that ran OK on turf

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RACE 4

2. Heartfullofstars	Outlasted pace rival in latest only to be bested by the favorite sitting a good trip; has kept better company than these, but does have a habit of finishing second
1. Jester’s Song	Inclined to forgive latest; appeared to be antsy in the gate and may have left his race there
5. Chocolate Shake	Should be forwardly placed in a race light on early zip; cutback in distance a plus

RACE 5 – ON THE TURF

2. Ayeartoremember	Breeding suggests a two-turn turf race might be what this miss has been looking for; arrives off an easy win versus three-life company on the main track, owns a two-turn win on the dirt, and if she takes to the turf, might be out there by herself early
11. Bella Principessa	Most recent try, versus NY-bred allowance foes, somewhat flattered when winner returned to win again then run a decent fourth against open allowance rivals; has better efforts to run back to
8. Louise Brooks	Draw a line through latest on dirt; couple prior turf tries are solid

RACING NOTES

Jockey Jaime Rodriguez swept the early double Thursday with Flat Lucky ($2.20) for trainer Jamie Ness and Storm Cat Eyes ($6.00) for Greg Compton. Rodriguez has 44 wins, six more than any other rider…
Trainer Michael Stidham won with another Godolphin horse in the sixth, a maiden special weight event. Dear Louise, by Hard Spun, prevailed by a neck in a race for two-year-old fillies…

RACE 6

1. Gentle Breeze	Flashed talent as a two-year-old when winning by a pole at first asking and then running second to Bentornato, who won his first four and earlier this year was third in the Saudi Derby; Allard barn can win off the bench, and this one’s been gelded and gets Lasix
7. Cattivo Ragazzo	Ultra-impressive debut and a repeat clearly makes him a winner here; moves from rail draw to outside, and with other speed in the form of #2 curious to see how he handles it; plenty of talent but unlikely to offer any value
5. Tiz Lord	Makes second start off the bench following a useful return in which he galloped out with or perhaps a bit in front of the winner

RACE 7– ON THE TURF

6. Hendrickson	Has run a bunch of good races without getting the money; makes third off the bench
4. Country Charlie	Will be in front early and could stick around a long time, but 0fer record on turf a concern
9. Diamond Messa	Seems like a horse whose move has to be timed just right; may have put a head in front in upper stretch in latest but then surrendered; finished just a half-length behind top choice after wide journey two back

RACE 8

1. Two Thirty Five	Dominated versus slightly lesser in latest; rail draw is fine, since he’ll be looking for the front regardless, though may get pressure from #4 in this spot; third start off the bench
2. Baton	Might sit a good trip behind two speeds and ready to pounce; won nicely in first try in Ness barn
5. Steele Money	If the pace heats up this one figures to be running late; first try in the Wagner barn, which is having a good meet to date

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