Who’re we watching? Let’s see what’s on tap in the mid-Atlantic this weekend:
[su_list icon=”icon: clock-o”]- Saturday, 3:45 p.m., Delaware Park’s Stanton Stakes About 1 1/16 miles on the turf for 3yo/taken off the turf. With the surface change, a bevy of scratches leave this one a bit less interesting.
- 1. #6 Donworth (4-1 morning line), the Lexington runner-up and Sir Barton show horse looks to have this group at his mercy.
- 2. #2 Majestic Pride (10-1), a stakes-placed sprinter on the main track, may not mind the added ground, will look to take ’em all the way.
- 3. #10 Fantasize (15-1) has been gelded since his last; one dirt try was a fourth behind a horse who ran 4th in the G3 LeComte next out.
- 4. $4 Tiz My Valentine (10-1) owns a main-track route victory.
- Saturday, 4:04 p.m., Parx Racing’s Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap 7 furlongs on the main track, 3yo and up.
- 1. #9 A.P. Indian (7-2) Delacour runner has never been worse than second, draws nicely outside for rider Daniel Centeno at a distance that should suit.
- 2. #7 Dream Saturday (10-1) Show horse in the G1 Carter behind awesome-at-Aqueduct Dads Caps, this Michelle Nevin trainee has been working consistently from his Belmont base since, never out of the money at the distance, and should appreciate the class relief.
- 3. #1 Stallwalkin’ Dude (2-1) David Jacobson trainee has won 11 of 28, run well at the distance, and recently was second in the G2 True North. But Jacobson’s winless for 2015 in Bensalem.
- 4. #4 Res Judicata (12-1) Parx lover’s best puts him in the mix — but he’s been away since September.
- Saturday, 4:45 p.m., Delaware Park’s G3 Obeah Stakes 1 1/8 miles on the main track for fillies and mares 3yo and up
- 1. #9 Joint Return (5-1) G1-placed John Servis trainee looks to be returning to form after third in G3 DuPont Distaff, best finish of four to head here from there.
- 2. #11 Sea Shadow (12-1) Filly’s taken big strides forward as a 4yo, and blitzed the field in the Winter Melody here in first try with blinks.
- 3. #3 Fortune Pearl (3-1) A lukewarm fave, but you ignore Graham Motion here at your peril; last year’s G2 Delaware Oaks winner was seventh in the DuPont, but no reason to think improvement isn’t in the offing.
- 4. #7 Montana Native (4-1) Clement trainee showed a whole lotta nuthin’ in the Monmouth Beach, her first since September; shows positive training pattern since, likes the distance, and just missed in this event a year ago.
- Elsewhere…
- The scratch of La Verdad in the G3 Bed o’ Roses at Belmont Park (Saturday, 4:57 p.m.) gives Top Midlantic-bred Poll leader Dame Dorothy, a Pennsylvania-bred, the inside track to another win at a 7f distance at which she’s undefeated in three tries. Major contenders include G3 Vagrancy runner-up Room for Me, G3 Barbara Fritchie show horse Expression, and G3 Winning Colors winner Street Story.
- Top Midlantic-bred 3yo Poll leader Stellar Wind, a Virginia-bred, looks to recover her winning ways after finishing a late-running fourth as the favorite in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. She’s favored in the G2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita (Saturday, 7:14 p.m.). Scratches have left just six runners, and she clearly has the best credentials. Rivals to watch include Sheer Pleasure, who won a state-bred stake over the strip in impressive fashion in her first try around two turns and G3 Eight Belles show horse Scat Means Go.
- Monmouth’s Red Cross Stakes fields a salty group of sprinters. Our “Shore Bets” analysis.
