Delaware Park picks and horses to watch: August 24

Photo by HoofprintsInc.com.

We’ve got Delaware Park picks and horses to watch for Monday, August 24. The card features eight races.

Race 1 — Maiden special weight

Two-year-old maiden fillies will go 6 furlongs on the main track.
It was a decent debut for #6 Takingtimeoff (9-5), a two-year-old Curlin filly out of a Bernardini mare. After being reluctant to load, she showed decent speed to chase the leader, who was making her second start, and while she couldn’t go with that one, she remained well clear of the rest. She’s the first foal out of a three-time winner whose own dam was a Grade 1 winner. Trainer Stidham is 21-for-93 with 2yo making their second career start in special weight company… Trainer Phil Schoenthal has an intriguing record with juveniles making their debut in special weight company: while his record of 4-for-43 (9%) is below his overall record, he actually has a positive wagering ROI in that condition. He’ll be unveiling #4 Plane Drunk (8-1) in this contest; the Stay Thirsty filly has a couple of pretty sharp works under her belt and is a half-sister to a juvenile stakes winner… Pretty good rally while wide on the course on debut by #5 Celestial Cheetah (5-2); the O’Dwyer trainee can move forward here with a cleaner trip…

Three-year-olds and up will go about 5 furlongs on the turf in a first-level allowance.
Couldn’t have been much easier last time out in lifetime claiming company for #1 Chess Master (10-1), who earned a big Beyer fig and whose long comment line reads “inhaled leader.” If the Galvan trainee can bring that form to tougher company, he’ll contend here… No question that #2 Steadytillready (4-1) still has some learning to do; the Camejo trainee was pretty green in victory last time in a race that’s produced two next-out winners. This one is a half to a turf winner and by a sire, Curlin, who’s been surprisingly good at getting turf sprinters… His connections liked the pricey #5 Zyramid (5-1) enough to try him in last year’s G2 Saratoga Special. Now in the DeMasi barn, he’ll try turf for the first time here; he’s out of a mare who was G3-placed on the lawn and is a half to a two-time turf winner…

Three-year-olds and up will go 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track in a second-level allowance with an optional claiming tag of $25,000.
The horse to watch in this spot is #3 Skol Factor (3-1). When last seen locally, the gelding by The Factor was dominating a first-level allowance to win by over a length while earning a Beyer fig of 85. He tried synthetic last out at PID; he finished fifth but was in a four-horse photo for the place behind Guildsman, who’d been keeping better company on the turf. This one can improve back on dirt. The main question here is pace; there are a number of runners who, like this guy, want to be forwardly placed, which could play to the advantage of a horse like #5 Seany P (6-1).

WAGERS