Delaware Park horses to watch: September 27

by | Sep 27, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has a nine-race card slated for Wednesday, and scheduled post time is 1:15 p.m. The ninth and final race is for Arabians. Some horses to watch:

  • Race five is a $12,500 claimer going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The morning line favorite here is the formful #2 King Gatto (7-2), who enters with two wins and a second in his last three. Let’s look farther outside for our horse of interest, though, to #9 Captain Dixie (6-1). Last year, this Henrythenavigator gelding was in the best form of his life, beaten less than a length in the Grade 2 Dixie and following that up with credible efforts in a pair of Grade 3 events. He apparently had some physical ailments because he was off 10 months, returning in June to run second — and be claimed by trainer Katherine Neilson — against rivals similar to today’s. He followed that up with a third against similar in July but has been away since and shows a single work in the interim. The key horse in his last two is Odlum, who’s been in the money seven times in seven 2017 starts. Captain Dixie shortens up to 7 1/2 furlongs here and will need a bit of help from the pace. The toteboard may provide useful feedback on this horse’s readiness tomorrow, but if he can find any semblance of his 2016 form, he could run well here. Forest Boyce is up.
  • The favorite in race seven, a $36,000 allowance test going five furlongs on the turf, figures to be #2 Uncle Leo (9-5), who came in seventh last out — but was beaten less than two lengths, and that in the Grade 3 Turf Monster. The show horse from that event, Snowday, won the Laurel Dash in his follow-up start.  But he’s also one of a few horses likely to want to be involved in the early running. We’ll look to beat him with #6 Classic Salsa (12-1). The Two Step Salsa horse makes his third start in trainer Hugh McMahon’s barn and finds easier company than he’s seen in prior turf tries. The race figures to have plenty of speed types, and this one might have a chance to come running late. Katie Davis will ride.

ARABIAN WATCH

Arabian handicapping is provided by our friends at Arabian Finish Line.

Today’s Arabian race is for maiden claimers going 1 mile and 70 yards. These are horses that are still looking for that elusive first win, and one of them will get it. Bellefast keeps knocking on the door having one second and two thirds in four starts. He has shown some talent and should get a win. Dbon Temp Rouler may benefit from the longer distance and will definitely benefit from having Ricardo Chiappe aboard. Sand Token and Sabres Edge have both been running since the beginning of the Delaware Park meet. They sometimes get a top three placing and with any luck one or both will get a piece of the purse.