Delaware Park horses to watch: October 7

by | Oct 7, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has a nine-race card lined up for Saturday, with the finale for Arabians. Scheduled post time is 1:15 p.m. Some horses to watch:

  • The fifth is a maiden special weight test for two-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track, and it carries a $34,000 purse. While there are certainly some nicely bred horses out of high-quality barns slated to go postward, we’re most interested to see #1 Desert Isle (6-1). The downsides, from a wagering perspective, are that she’s breaking from the rail, and trainer Graham Motion doesn’t always have his runners cranked up for their first start. On the plus side: she’s a daughter of top sire Bernardini out of the incredibly productive Smart Strike mare Eye of the Sphynx. Eye of the Sphynx herself was a graded stakes winner and the Canadian champion three-year-old filly. Her five offspring to race are all winners, three of whom have won stakes, among them multiple graded winner Deceptive Vision. This one arrives with a couple of bullet works under her belt and gets Scott Spieth in the irons.
  • The seventh is a first-level allowance/optional claimer at the $15,000 level with a $36,000 purse. While there are certainly some different ways to go in here, let’s take a crack with #2 Ackeret (8-1). This runner, making his third start in the Wayne Potts barn, received Lasix for the first time in his 26-race career last out and responded by beating similar at Timonium, at 8-1 odds. The runner-up that day, Mr. Benz, returned to win against allowance foes at Penn National. David Amiss retains the mount for the third straight race.

ARABIAN WATCH

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

The final race today is an allowance/optional claiming race for fillies and mares that have never won 2 races going 6 furlongs. It is also featured as a Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC) race, which is offering $4,000 paid out to horses that meet specific guidelines via pedigree – regardless of where they finish. The only horse meeting the guidelines is Dartyn Kriss SWA, who has a chance to hit the top 3.

Among the rest of the field, Merlot MHF has regained some form and could win, especially if it is an off track. She gets leading Arabian rider Keiber Coa. Royally Bred was third in a graded stakes last time out and should be able to handle this field if the distance is not too short. RB Wicked Rich did finally break her maiden and will be tough, especially with Ricardo Chiappe aboard.