Chalky returns, and featured in this Four on the Floor is the grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.  It’s a 1 1/8 mile turf event that’s drawn a field of eight.

DELAWARE PARK RACE 7 – THE G3 KENT – 3 year-olds, one mile and on eighth on the turf

  1. Hard Enough (5-1) – Doubled up, winning the Restoration narrowly after an upset win in the Jersey Derby.  He made all the running in the Restoration, carving out solid fractions and still holding off the closers.  Looks to be the main speed once again.
  2. Are You Kidding Me (6-1) – This guy doesn’t win much – two in 12 starts for trainer Roger Attfield – but he often runs well.  Good second in the Toronto Cup, as he chased loose on the lead Five Iron throughout; that one came back with a dominant Spa win in the G3 Saranac.
  3. Grand Tito (15-1) – Dead-heated for the win in the Showing Up at Gulfstream, then was nowhere in the Naked Greed at Calder.  Of course, others from the Showing Up were also nowhere in the Naked Greed, which means either the yielding turf handicapped some solid performers or the Showing Up wasn’t much of a race.  Long enough odds could tilt that decision.
  4. Michael With Us (4-1) – Made a menacing late run but just missed in the Restoration against Hard Enough, a foe he’d earlier bested.  Had to check in the lane, which likely cost him the win.  Closed fast but had a close to ideal setup and may not find that here.

Notably, morning line favorite Saint Vigeur is scratched.

PARX RACING RACE 8 – THE MARSHALL JENNEY HANDICAP – Pennslyvania-bred three year-olds and up, 5 furlongs on the turf

  1. El Seventyseven (6-1) – Returns just a week after a more-than-credible fifth place effort (at 45-1) in the G3 Turf Monster; caught a killer field that day and should appreciate major class relief here.  Trainer McLean Robertson has a strong record with horses on short rest — 26 percent wins, 74 percent in the money in a 31-race sample.
  2. Madrilena (5-2) – Hard-hitting mare takes on the boys off a narrow win in the Power by Far in July, with a couple of decent works, including one bullet, in between.
  3. This Ain’t No Bull (9-2) – Son of Holy Bull is two-for-two at this trip, figures to gun for the lead and hope for the best.
  4. Private Tutor (10-1) – Sophomore’s in-and-out form is something of a concern, though his tries doing this are generally solid.  Exit a messy last-place finish in the Crowd Pleaser, but that was a route.  Breaking from the outside, he just might sit a good trip behind the speed.