Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 1, 2026

  • CARRYOVERS: Pick 5, $5,049
  • POST TIME: 11:00 A.M.
  • NUMBER OF RACES: 9

RACE 1: 4-5-2-1

#4 Montauk Point might offer some value, since his form’s been dirtied up with a pair of off-color outings, but we’re inclined to think he may have excuses: two back he stopped against much better, but that was going 1 3/4 miles, which may not be to his liking, and last out, also against better, he was buried down inside when that wasn’t the ideal place to be; not far removed from races that win here… #5 Hardy Choice probably isn’t good enough to beat the better ones here, but his best shot might be to to head out for the lead in a race without confirmed front-runner types… #2 Winter’s Ghost gives trainer Kravets (also Hardy Choice) two chances to win; the drop feels slightly aggressive, as that wasn’t a bad outing in latest, but a repeat could easily be good enough…

RACE 2: 6-5-7-3

This is an intriguing maiden special weight contest going six furlongs… We’ll take a bit of a stab with #6 Intogage, an Engage gelding, who brought a hefty $120,000 price — considering Engage stands for $2,500 — as a two-year-old last year; fast works for a barn that can win first out… #5 No More Kings was claimed for $100k out of his debut but was mostly outmatched in tough company at Oaklawn; returns to the dirt for the first time locally… #7 America’s Point debuts for trainer Mac Robertson, who sports a 2.98 ROI with older first-time starters in special weight company…

RACE 3: 7-4-5-6

#7 R Averie Lynn loves to win (15 times in her career) and loves this 5 1/2-furlong trip (seven wins and 18 total in the money in 19 outings); plenty of early speed and drawn outside a plus, and we’re not concerned about the latest when going seven furlongs, probably too far for her… #4 Ritabook finished ahead of R Averie Lynn four times in five meetings last year at DEL and got a big Beyer fig last out, but note that only one of four to run back from that race has finished in the money next out… #5 Miguel’s Belle ran poorly last out, snapping a seven-race streak of exacta finishes; was it night racing, a bad day, or a sign she’s going off form? Where you land on that question dictates whether you’ll be inclined to take likely short odds…

RACE 4: 4-1-7-6

#4 Braquet has seen some small fields — but not easy fields — in recent allowance outings at Penn National, catching Peridot Pendant (5-for-6 this year) and Foxy Junior (multiple stakes winner) in her last two; this field’s not easy, either, but she’ll be happy to be clear of those rivals… #1 Golden Eib Micrphn enters off consecutive wins against similar but switches barns after the claim… #7 Chelsea Wall didn’t run very well at MTH last out but had been in very good form prior and is 3-for-3 at DEL, along with nine wins at the trip; can stalk and pounce from the outer draw, and the Paco-Ness combo is winning at a 58% clip (!) at Delaware…

RACE 5: 3-8-5-7

#3 Starmetal drops into a manageable spot for his third start since moving back into the Nihei barn; two back she ran behind subsequent G3 Pennine Ridge winner West End Kid, and last time he didn’t run poorly versus better in a race from which a horse that finished behind him won against maiden claimers next out… #8 Andolin makes his second start off the bench, an angle with which trainer Ashby has a positive ROI, and that most recent turf outing has been flattered by McCready’s subsequent work… #5 Rum Rock ran OK on debut on the main track behind next out turf winner Just Jo Jo; this one’s maternal granddam was a stakes winner on turf, and sire Rock Your World won a stake on the lawn…

RACE 6: 2-7-4-6

#2 Embrace My Uncle continues to churn out good races while mostly getting ignored at the windows; ran a sneaky-good one in latest when rallying smartly in late stages for show dough despite sluggish early pace, and might get a little more lively tempo today; defeated similar at Tampa earlier this year… #7 Mr. Ripple ran a good one last out after a slow break and wide journey left him up against it… #4 Sundaeswithsandy makes his third start off the bench and goes out for red-hot Paco-Ness combo…

RACE 7: 6-5-7-3

#6 Drop Shot has certainly kept the right sort of company while racing at Saratoga, Keeneland, and others; switches into the Sacco barn and should get major class relief… #5 Citrine didn’t run poorly in his debut and now gets on the turf, which is what trainer Motion, who has a positive ROI with second-time starters going dirt to turf, had hoped for last time… #7 President Camacho also tries the lawn for the first time; the Enticed gelding is a half to a two-time turf winner…

RACE 8: 6-1-5-3

#6 Embrace the Moment had it her own way last out, especially after the favorite blew the start, but on the other hand, look at the fractions she threw down (22 1/5 and a blazing 44 3/5 half-mile); she’s a horse they always liked, and her only defeats have come either when cooked up front in the Pocahantas or when coming off a long layoff two back… #1 Nancy Mary needs a pace to close into and might get it today; dangerous in the right scenario… #5 Sassafrassness caught a really rugged group last out in a ratings handicap that included a pair of multiple stakes winners…

RACE 9: 3-8-1-2

#3 Good News Rocket won pretty easily last out when dropped down to similar level and may be speed of the speed; first in Salinas barn… #8 Battle Warrior ran a sneaky good race two back against similar, and let’s draw a line through recent turf outing… #1 Develop Product will be running late but may run out of real estate…

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