Delaware Park picks and analysis: August 21, 2024
Picks and analysis for this afternoon’s card from Delaware Park:
- DATE: july 17, 2024, 12:30 p.m. first post
- RACES ON CARD: 8
- CARRYOVERS: Pick 5, $6,211
- POST TIME: 12:30 p.m.
RACE 1
5. Highs N Goes | Takes drop after flashing brief speed versus special weight foes |
4. Flex Warrior | Half to a first-out winner and by a sire who wins with 12% of 2yo firsters; trainer Shuman 2-for-18 with debut 2yos |
2. Bobby Rocky Jake | While figs are clearly best of these, has been pretty well beaten in both starts one level up |
RACE 2
3. Minxzluckystarfyre | Consistent sort takes appropriate drop and should be in a good spot to leave three-life condition; willing in latest despite breaking slowly, and we expect him to be closer to the front today |
1. Kick Startness | Speedster had it all his own way in latest and galloped but seems likely to be pushed harder up front here |
4. Marcus Junius | Bit of a freshening after latest, which was fifth consecutive runner-up finish |
RACE 3
5. Dirty Gold | Promising debut despite greenness in the stretch; Centeno in the irons a plus |
1. Purring | Hasn’t missed by much in multiple tries; was always going to be tough for this one to rally in latest when pace slowed to a crawl |
4. Stella d’Amore | Both siblings ran well on debut, including one winner |
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
RACE 4
2. Darvesh | Best efforts probably good enough to graduate here; grinding run in latest while under a drive virtually throughout the race; new pilot Hernandez will likely be busy on this one |
1. Heavy Equipment | Pretty promising debut in a race that produced three next out winners — but that was 11 months ago; gelded since and gets Lasix on but drop into claiming ranks not a terrific endorsement |
4. Cajun Cruiser | Easier company probably a plus here |
RACE 5
6. Cigale | Broke his maiden at the Spa last summer as a juvenile; gelded since latest and gets back to turf sprinting for first time since graduation score |
7. Autumns Strong Man | First outing on turf netted at 82 Beyer fig, which likely wins this heat; in two tries on the lawn since, he faced stakes animals over yielding ground and tried a mile |
4. Wora | We’ve been chasing this guy all meet; has beaten better |
RACING NOTES
- Jockey Francisco Martinez had three mounts at Delaware Saturday and won with all three. He swept the early double with 13-1 debut runner Brooklyn Rhapsody and 8-5 Lucky Lucky Luke both for trainer Angel Sanchez-Pinero, and then he took the fifth with 7-1 Ayeartoremember trying turf for the first time for John Kirby…
- How good a meet is bug rider Gabriel Maldonado having? He’s won 39 races to date, while the odds would have predicted 28.21 wins. That mark — 10.79 wins above expectations — is light years ahead of any other rider. Pedro Cotto, with 2.97 wins above expectations at the meet, is next…
- On the trainer side, Graham Motion (10-for-30 at the meet) has provided the highest number of wins above expectations. His 10 wins are 4.12 above what his odds would have predicted…
RACE 6
3. Kiss Me Hardy | Troubled trip when beaten favorite in latest at this level; should be able to find a good trip off speed duo |
4. Dancing On My Own | Has finished behind #1 here in last two but keeps running good races; will be part of the pace mix |
1. Respectfully | Wins on best but the abrupt drop to $20k following a loss at 2-5 and voided claim feel like question marks |
RACE 7 – Cape Henlopen Stakes
2. Limited Liability | Was closest to the early pace of any of the three in the photo in Belmont Gold Cup in a race in which the pace was fast, and collapsed |
4. Really Good | Owns a win over the Delaware lawn |
3. The Grey Wizard | Needed every inch of two miles to get up in Belmont Gold Cup; suspect the cutback hurts him more than others |
RACE 8
5. Fia First | Has run two pretty good races since return from the bench and makes third of the cycle |
10. Big Bolt | Return to main track a positive |
3. City Kiss | Brutal beat in latest when leading every step but the last one at 30-1 |
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