Delaware Park horses to watch: October 14

by | Oct 14, 2017 | Breaking, DE Racing, Delaware, Racing

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

by Frank Vespe

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

  • The second race is a $40,000 maiden claimer for two-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track. The likely post time favorite is the Mike Stidham trainee #6 Hey Baby Girl (3-2), who ran fifth against $80,000 maiden claimers in her debut at Del Mar August 30. But a) what’s fun about the favorite? and b) it’s not exactly a vote of confidence that Stidham doesn’t at least try her once against the easier maiden special weight company he’d find here. Let’s take a look instead at taking a shot with #7 Whistle Worthy (8-1). The Street Magician filly is out of the Lion Hearted mare Go Lion Go, who’s thrown pretty useful runners; all three of her offspring to race are winners. The only one to race at age two, Go Money Go, broke her maiden as a juvenile, and one of the other two won at first asking. This Lynn Ashby trainee will have Keiber Coa in the irons.
  • The sixth race is a optional claiming/starter allowance with a $25,000 tag for horses that have never won two going a mile 70 yards on the main track. And OK, yes, trainer Scott Peck’s having a rough 2017 (he’s 0-for-31 this year). But that doesn’t mean #6 Fire Moon (8-1) isn’t worth a play if you get decent odds. The Friesan Fire gelding just missed last out — losing by a head — against better at 27-1 odds. That was his first start since late June, and here in his second off the layoff, he owns the right to move forward. There’s not a lot of early speed in here, so he’ll have a chance to be involved, possibly on the lead, early, and if he can repeat that last, he’ll rate a shot in here. Notably, the morning line favorite here, #7 Quality Counts (2-1), ran third in Fire Moon’s last, two lengths behind him. Ricardo Chiappe is up.

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.