Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 7, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 7, 2024

Picks and analysis for this afternoon’s card from Delaware Park:

RACE 1

5. Az Sharp	Seemed to be dropping out of it in last before regaining momentum to gain third versus better
7. Darvesh	Runner-up two back versus similar and show horse returned to graduate at same level
3. Gambe Forte	Caught a rugged race two-back that produced three next-out winners; must turn tables on #7

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RACE 2

7. Chief Ron	Formful sort has won three straight, including versus similar two back; oddly, runner-up three back was No Easy Days, while two-back runner-up was Easy Day
8. Don’t Wait Up	Never quite sure what you’ll get with this one, but best efforts contend; may not have appreciated the kickback in last
5. Autumns Strong Man	Six straight starts on turf or wet dirt tracks

RACE 3 – ON THE TURF

4. Sports Editor	Up close to a wicked pace that allowed closers to finish one-two in most recent but was willing to the end
1. Lincoln Hawk	Grinding run for second last time out in a race in which top choice here finished fifth after pressing the pace
6. Regal Kingdom	Got a bit of a freshening after getting throttled four straight; easier company should help

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RACE 4

8. Lucky in Love	Last was not her best; third start for the Simone barn and tries shortest distance yet; earned career-best 41 Beyer fig at next-shortest
7. Wicked Kitten	Good try in last when leading a long way but unable to contain 6-5 class dropper; cutback to one turn may not be ideal
5. Gettothstoryimdone	Tries to date are ok; shifts into Nazario barn, which has been scuffling at the meet

RACE 5 – ON THE TURF

6. Elusive Image	Speedy sort couldn’t contain 2-5 class-dropping winner but very nearly held the place; figures to control early
14. Holla At Your Boy	Makes third start off the bench
13. Halon	Draw a line through last and see if he can bounce back

RACING NOTES

Saturday’s Delaware Oaks day card was postponed until Monday because of heat…
Beach Island’s easy win in the second race Thursday under Carol Cedeno gave trainer Kerri Raven the 100th win of her career. Raven’s horses are 5-for-7 at the Delaware meet…
Jockeys Julio Hernandez and Jaime Rodriguez won two apiece…
Popover Gal won the July 4 allowance feature for three-year-old fillies by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Jaime Rodriguez. Trained by Ned Allard for Stonehedge LLC, Popover Gal is now 2-for-2 in her young career…

RACE 6 – BATTERY PARK STAKES

5. Movisitor	Expected scratches of Drake’s Passage (3rd in G2 Brooklyn Friday) and Coastal Mission (2nd in G2 Nerud Saturday) could leave this one in the catbird seat controlling the pace, assuming no repeat of last out gate issues; huge effort in G3 last out when early trouble left him off the pace and hung out wide every step of the way; cleaner trip could yield better result, though in-and-out form means you need to demand value
1. Shaft’s Bullet	Tactical enough to find a good spot and possessed of strong late kick, this formful runner rates a major shot here; trainer Capuano leaves the bug rider in the irons; ran well in only prior DEL try at too-short-for-him 6f and last out thrashed a salty allowance group at LRL
6. Auto Glide	Improving locally-based runner gets class test in here, hopes to get a lively pace to attack
2. Magic Michael	Veteran has top local connections and plenty of back class

RACE 7 – DASHING BEAUTY STAKES

1. Olivia Darling	Graded winner found the waters too deep in the Derby City Distaff and ships here to get things back on track; if she’s right, she’ll win, and the question to answer is what fair odds are to wager on that
8. Everyoneloveslinda	In the money six straight on dirt while rising in class level; sure, the turf race was poor, but it was against better and on a surface evidently not her best; drawn well outside other speed
4. Jersey Pearl	Concluded her season with a minor stakes win at MVR, and the runner-up won a New York allowance in next; second behind Alva Starr two back in the Prioress; speedy sort in a race full of ’em but doesn’t need the lead; if she comes back running, she rates a shot here
9. Red Hot Mess	Delaware lover will need her very best but enters off a useful runner-up behind the very good Alva Starr while well clear of the rest; shows a zippy work in the interim and regular pilot Hiraldo remains aboard

RACE 8 – GRADE 3 ROBERT G. DICK MEMORIAL STAKES (ON THE TURF)

7. Chop Chop	Two-back winner of the G3 Bewitch couldn’t hold off Atomic Blonde (also here) in the Keertana, but that was a strangely run race with a tearaway leader who stopped and then the top three inhaled her; red-hot rider Prat (5 wins the other day) a plus
9. War Like Goddess	Multiple G1 winner towers over even this salty group and should win on best; maybe her presence here is just a matter of the right timing after she missed the Bewitch in April, but it does seem a slightly odd spot with the Glens Falls, which she won a year ago, looming in three weeks; have her on the ticket, absolutely, but she won’t offer much value in the win spot
1. La Mehana	Stakes winner is G1-placed in France and has been near-miss thirds in both North American starts; not sure those were the greatest fields she faced; encountered trouble early two back, which might have blunted late run; jock-trainer combo 35%
4. Freydis the Red	Call us crazy, but we think she’s sitting on a big one; was last a long way entering the lane in last and came flying late to just miss; added ground could play to her strength; trainer’s go-to rider ships into Delaware for a single mount

RACE 9 – GRADE 2 DELAWARE HANDICAP

2. Honor D Lady	G3 winner gave a really good account of herself after bad stumble leaving gate left her well behind the field; has the tactical speed to work out a good trip assuming no gate issues
6. Wet Paint	G1 Coaching Club Oaks winner from last year hasn’t quite reached those heights since, and her two this year are just ok; winner of last, Scylla, repeated in G2 company; in a race with some speed, will likely be several lengths back early before mounting a rally; hot-riding Prat a plus; trainer Cox won this race a year ago with subsequent champ Idiomatic
8. Abundancia	Probably a stretch, but hey, you’ll get paid if she does; Peruvian G2 winner’s biggest win came at 1 1/2 miles, so distance won’t be an issue; both US dirt starts are solid, including runner-up try in last behind winner of three straight; Arriagada barn productive
3. Saddle Up Jessie	Speedy sort’s form is a bit in-and-out but better efforts contend; only prior try beyond 1 1/16 miles netted an easy win in the Carousel at LRL

RACE 10

3. Ahorsewithnoname	Decent showing in last versus tough group that’s produced two next-out winners and a runner who moved up to $25k and ran second
4. Big Tone C	Beaten fave in last drops to bottom
6. Storm Cat Eyes	Lost rider in last; reunites with top local pilot Rodriguez

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