The stakes portion of Delaware Park’s 2024 meet hits the finish line Wednesday when the track hosts a pair of events for juveniles, the White Clay Creek for fillies and the Rocky Run for the boys. Both offer $125,000 purses, and both are run at one mile on the main track.

That one-mile distance introduces a crucial variable in the handicapping puzzle. Only three of those entered have a one-mile race on the resume, and one of the three, John Hazard’s Sacred Thunder, is more likely to run in Saturday’s Maryland Million Nursery, trainer Gary Capuano said.

One runner likely to benefit from added ground is Edward Seltzer and Justin Nixon’s Lil Sebastian, also trained by Nixon.

Lil Sebastian is by Rogueish, a son of Into Mischief who made only one start before getting injured and retired to stud in Florida. His oldest are three-year-olds, and despite having only 21 runners to date, they have combined to win at a gaudy 25% clip.

Lil Sebastian is out of the Tapit mare Tap Me Free, a mare owned by Seltzer that Nixon said he bought into with the understanding that they would breed her to Rogueish for the first three years. But she passed away last year while in foal to Rogueish, making Lil Sebastian her only offspring by that sire.

“The breeding game isn’t for the squeamish,” Nixon acknowledged. But, he added, “[Lil Sebastian] definitely has the pedigree behind him.”

Lil Sebastian posted a good-looking score at second asking in a waiver maiden claimer at Laurel Park. Under Angel Cruz, he broke alertly to duel for command early, but soon both he and pace rival General Maximus were passed by Ecumenical who went a length clear rounding the turn. Lil Sebastian had more to give, though, fighting back along the rail to win over those two rivals by 1 ¾ lengths.

“At the 5 1/16 pole, I thought we were in trouble,” Nixon said. “I thought, ‘Oh boy, this is gonna get ugly.’ But then he dug back in. I was really proud of the effort.”

Lil Sebastian will have to take a step forward to contend for the top spot. But lightly raced two-year-olds often do, and the added ground should be in his wheelhouse.

“To win a stake in partnership with Ed [Seltzer] would be great,” Nixon said. “He gets a big thrill out of that.”

Cruz has the return mount. Lil Sebastian is 15-1 on the morning line.

After delivering two impressive performances in his only career starts, Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds, and Non Stop Stable’s It’s Hammertime will face a two-turn challenge in the $125,000 Rocky Run. The one-mile race for 2-year-olds has drawn a field of ten.

In his debut, the son of Vekoma won by 8 lengths in a five-furlong maiden race at Delaware Park on June 5. Trained by Gary Capuano, the Maryland-bred followed up with a 5-length victory in the six-furlong, $100,000 First State Dash Stakes at Delaware Park on September 11.

“It’s Hammertime looks like a definite as long as everything goes as planned the rest of the week,” said Capuano late last week. “Knock on wood, he is coming into the race really great. You never know once you stretch them out, but he sure trains like he will not have a problem going two turns. He had a real nice easy breeze yesterday going a mile. He finished up strong and galloped out good, so we feel good about where he is at. You have a whole lot more options if they can stretch out and we feel good he is ready for the test.”

It’s Hammertime has drawn the far outside post and will have Julio Hernandez in the irons. He is the 2-1 morning line favorite.

Capuano has also entered Rose Petal Stable’s Bangkok Bob and John Hazard’s Sacred Thunder. He said is most likely to start Bangkok Bob in the Rocky Run, in which he is 15-1, and send Sacred Thunder, a son of Maryland sire Holy Boss, to the Maryland Million Nursery

The two other runners with victories at one mile are the Elkstone Group LLC’s Tony Eclipse and Runnymoore Racing’s Ramiel.

Tony Eclipse, trained at Laurel by Brittany Russell won at second asking in a one-turn mile over his home track. After a poor debut on the turf at Colonial Downs, he blasted five rivals at Laurel, winning by nearly nine lengths.

Tony Eclipse is 9-2 on the morning line and will have the trainer’s husband, Sheldon Russell, in the irons.

Ramiel, a homebred Tapit colt, won last out in his third career start, taking an off-the-turf maiden special weight over the Delaware strip. The Cal Lynch trainee is 12-1 on the morning line and will have leading rider Jaime Rodriguez up.

The Rocky Run is the eighth race on a nine-race program.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!