Delaware Park 2019 horses to watch: Obeah Stakes

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

by Frank Vespe

Delaware Park has an eight-race card on tap for Saturday, with the finale for Arabians. The top race on the card is the $100,000 Obeah Stakes, a prep race for next month’s Grade 2 Delaware Handicap.

Race 7: Obeah Stakes

• Fillies and mares, three years old and up
• 1 1/8 miles, $100,000 purse

THE FIELD

1. Another Broad (3-2): Fourth-place finisher in a pair of graded events, including last month’s G3 Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico, has one of the oddest race records you’ll ever see: she’s 0-for-5 on a fast main track with just a single runner-up effort — but has a 5:4-1-0 mark on off tracks… The bad news: today’s strip is rated fast… Trainer Todd Pletcher doesn’t ship to Delaware often, so you have to imagine he means business when he does… Gets top rider Trevor McCarthy in the irons… Grinding sort has a win at the trip and figures to like all the ground she can get… Maryland-bred daughter of Include shifted from Mike Trombetta barn and was purchased by new owners after runner-up try in the Geisha last year… Figures a player here, but do you really want 3-2 on a horse that’s never won on a fast track?
2. Gotham Gala (6-1): Delacour trainee makes second start of ’19 after distant third-place finish last time out; winner Horologist returned to win a Monmouth stake in her follow-up…  Delacour won the Light Hearted (local prep for the Delaware Oaks) with Fashion Faux Pas last week… McCarthy picks the Pletcher shipper here over this miss, so Delacour will leg up Daniel Centeno, who’s ridden this filly four times, including both of her wins…. Season debut was just an even effort, and she’ll need to improve off that — but with just seven starts, that’s a distinct possibility…
3. Goodonehoney (2-1): Maryland-bred Great Notion filly flashed major talent as a sophomore, winning the Weber City Miss by seven in just her second career start before running fifth behind the ultra-talented Red Ruby in the G2 Black-Eyed Susan after a rugged trip… After three tries this year, following 10 months off, it feels like she’s sitting on a big move forward… Transferred from Jason Egan’s Maryland barn to the Parx operation of trainer Michael Moore this year… Was a dominant winner in the Serena’s Song last time out at MTH only to be DQed for coming over on a rival at about the five-furlong pole… Not quite sure what to make of that race as the field really labored in the lane; this one put distance between herself and her rivals while needing over 28 seconds to cover the fourth quarter-mile of the race… Could be main speed in the group… Frankie Pennington will ride…
4. Drop Dead Red (5-1): Recent $25,000 claim could pay immediate dividends for new owners AJ Suited Racing with win here… Six-year-old mare impressed last out in second try for new connex when blitzing a stakes-quality field by six lengths while ridden out… New trainer Tres Abbott thinks he may have found a key to calming high-strung mare… Has never tried this nine-furlong distance and that raises a bit of a question… Leading rider Carol Cedeno is up. For more on Drop Dead Red, read on… If last is indication, she fits here.
5. Vente to Go (8-1): Was fifth behind #4 in here two back but came back to win an allowance contest narrowly last time out.. Exercise rider-turned trainer Cesar Nambo hunting first stake win here… Makes third start of ’19… Maryland-bred daughter of El Padrino has never tried the distance but does own three wins over the strip… Likely to try for a stalk-and-pounce trip under Jose Garcia… Must improve.
6. Blue Union Rags (12-1): John Servis trainee ran fourth in a pair of stakes over the strip last year… Still eligible for second-level allowance and has been well-beaten in two tries at that condition… Ran fourth in same race as #2 here last out and was five lengths behind that runner… Will need to show more than she ever has to contend here…. Tossing.

Arabian Watch

Thanks to Stephanie Ruff and Arabian Finish Line for giving us insights to the Arabian racing at Delaware Park.

Today’s Arabian race is a 6-furlong maiden event. The well-bred RB Frynchh Dude, from the hot barn of Rosebrook Farm and trainer Jerenesto Torrez finished second in his first start and could easily pick up the victory. Uptown WTF has three third in three starts. It seems he is poised to get closer to that first win.Texas Style CS has also been knocking on the door and could get a top three placing.