Delaware Park horses to watch: July 24

by | Jul 24, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

Off at Delaware Park. Photo © www.HoofprintsInc.com.

by Frank Vespe

Today’s Delaware Park card is an eight-race affair, the eighth for Arabians, and the weekend rain has taken a toll; they’re off the turf, and what was to be the allowance feature has scratched down to just three runners. Post time is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:

  • The fourth race is a never-won-two claimer at the $12,500 level, and though it’s off the turf, most of the runners have remained in. West Virginia-bred Geebop (9-2 morning line) has made three of his four career starts on turf — but the only one he won was taken off the turf and put on the main track. His sire, Bop, was a very fast sprinter, but this guy ran well last out going today’s distance of 1 mile 70 yards, albeit on turf, and he’s finished in the trifecta in three straight. He’ll probably go off the favorite and certainly fits here. Midnight’s Fantasy (15-1) also fits here and has the look of a horse who may have been entered in hopes the race would come off the turf; he’s never raced on the green stuff in 16 tries and may appreciate the change of venue from Churchill to Delaware.
  • The seventh is a $12,500 maiden claimer going a mile on the main track. The morning line gives a lot of love to Cash Money Always (2-1), arriving locally from Churchill Downs, and Ollie Figgins trainee Cent Comm (7-2), but we’re intrigued by Tapizaragain (10-1), who’s made just three starts, two locally against similar, most recently finishing second by less than a length. The Lucia Garibay trainee will have Daniel Centeno in the irons.

ARABIAN WATCH

Our Arabian coverage is presented by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.

This $20,000 open allowance race at 1 1/16 miles features 2-time Darley Horse of the Year Paddys Day, who is undefeated in 4 starts this year. His main competition will be from Champion Easter Man, who finished a good second to RB Nash just last week. This will be his second race off a layoff, and he gets leading rider Carol Cedeno. If Paddys Day is not at his best, look for Easter Man to be right there. On paper, the other horses are all racing for third. Lil Dude AA has run behind the top tier of horses but could get a piece of the purse.