Delaware Park Racing Notebook 2018: Vol. 8

Elate won the G2 Delaware Handicap. Photo by Allison Janezic.

by Doug McCoy

Every week during the Delaware Park racing season, The Racing Biz will publish The Delaware Park Racing Notebook. This page is designed to give helpful information to both horseplayers and horsemen about the racing picture at Delaware Park from the past week.

In the notebook, you’ll find:

• “Horses to watch” section highlighting both horses who have shown promise those who may have had poor “trips” in their last starts.
• “Clocker’s Corner” where track clockers will point out horses who have worked in noteworthy fashion during the past week.
• Track tendencies or biases during the week’s races. While it would be great if every race track was completely fair and even and an equal number of speed horses, stalkers, and closers won each day, observant handicappers know this just isn’t the case. Every track’s tendencies and biases (favored styles) change and vary, often from one racing program to the next due to any number of factors, most notably weather. While these changes are often minor, there are also days where a certain type of horse (like a speed horse) has a decided advantage, and there also days where one portion of the racing strip is a better spot to race over (like the inside) than another.
• Leading trainers and jocks and who’s been hot during the last week.

HORSES TO WATCH

• RED RAZZO – This one took up at the start then was hung wide trying to make a last-to-first move in his first start in two months. A clean break and that race under his belt should make this one tough next out.
• NOBODY’S ANGEL – Also made a move from last to head-and-head for the lead into the stretch before weakening most recently. Better early placement should help this one.
• OPTICAL ILLUSION – Was in the parking lot coming out of the final turn of recent turf race but still finished well coming home outside the drop-down favorite and eventual winner. Reasonably good trip next race would make this one a threat.
• SUMMERTIME SKY – Finished well late behind a runaway winner. Race was first since December and also looked like more distance would help as well.

CLOCKERS’ CORNER

• SILVER DAGGER – This Pino runner who won his last continues to train well and worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01.60 on 07/19.
• PALSY WALSY – Delacour maiden who ran fourth most recently worked a solid half in :48.60 and may improve on last race.
• PUTURSEATBELTON – This Tessore trainee knocked out a good half mile of :48.60 on 07/21. Second in a tough race at Laurel last start, he looks poised to win.
• GREAT HARBOUR CAY – Gerald Bennett runner who isn’t known for a quickness of foot drilled a quick half mile in :48.40, the best of 32 for the distance on 7/21, and should improve on his fourth place finish last out when in again.

Michael Gorham, who seems to get the most out of his stock year in and year out, sent six runners to the post last week and three found the winner’s circle for a gaudy 50 percent strike rate.

Gerald Bennett took a pair of races from six starters, and the veteran, who returned to Delaware Park this season after a year’s hiatus, continues to send out winners at a solid clip, ranking fifth in the standings with eight tallies. Michael Catalano, Jr. won with both of his starters last week.

Jamie Ness and Scott Lake, who tied for the training title last season, are on even terms again this year at the top of the standings with 12 wins each, two more than Anthony Pecoraro.

Claudio Gonzalez, second in the colony with a strike rate of 43 percent, and Jorge Navarro (first at 54 percent), continue to hold down the first and second spots, respectively, in our alternative trainer standings. Gonzalez also leads the track in earnings per start, while Peter Wasiluk is tops in wagering ROI.

TRACK BIAS REPORT

Power of Snunner won the 2017 Obeah at Delaware Park. Photo by Kathleen O’Leary.

• 07/18 – The track was somewhat speed-favoring with horses on or near the lead having the greatest success.
• 07/19 – Surface was still favoring speed and stalker types and as has been the case most of the meet, the rail continues not to be the place to race. Horses on the lead from the inside in sprints tend to tire and fade through the turn and into the stretch, and when possible riders are placing their mounts 2 or 3 paths off the inside.
• 07/21 – Heavy rains in the area left the racing surface sloppy with quite a bit of standing water. Because of changing conditions throughout the afternoon, no particular bias could be detected.
• 07/23 – The surface was wet but drying out and was back harrowed along the inside where the racing was while sealed along the outside. Horses on or close to the lead seemed to fare the best as again the rail played dull and tiring.