DEL: Locals face intriguing invaders in 2yo stakes
Rocky Run, White Clay Creek among four Saturday stakes
The Biz
September 24, 2026
Intriguing invaders and talented locals clash in a pair of juvenile stakes Saturday at Delaware Park.
Earth Song, Full Access, and Hammerin Henry, sharp last-out winners, lead the invaders in the $150,000 Rocky Run Stakes, while local stalwarts Gary Capuano, Lynn Ashby, and Graham Motion try to hold serve.
The one-mile Rocky Run is followed by the $150,000 White Clay Creek for 2-year-old fillies at the same distance.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
Capuano’s Westbound Cat is the 5-2 morning line favorite. An Aloha West colt owned by John Hazard, Westbound Cat owns a win from three starts and most recently was a close-up fourth in the six-furlong First State Dash. But he’s one of just two here to have won at a mile, which he did by six lengths to break his maiden Aug. 27.
Hammerin Henry, the 3-1 morning-line second choice, earned his diploma at Saratoga Aug. 28, pressing the pace before drawing off by 4¾ lengths in a 6½-furlong maiden race for New York-breds. The son of Cyberknife, trained by Brad Cox, had finished third in his debut at the same track. Samuel Marin has the mount from post eight.
Earth Song was even more emphatic in his Sept. 7 debut at Monmouth Park. The Jorge Delgado trainee took command on the turn and rolled home by 11¼ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight. Daniel Centeno rides the $250,000 son of Justify from post four.
Full Access also enters unbeaten after rallying from midpack to score by 1¾ lengths going six furlongs at Ellis Park. The Riley Mott trainee earned a field-best 72 Beyer Speed Figure.
The White Clay Creek drew 10 fillies, including two exiting the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga.
Life Changing was brilliant in her Aug. 1 debut at the Spa, leading throughout and drawing away by seven lengths with an 84 Beyer. The $1.025 million daughter of Life Is Good was the 2-1 favorite in the Spinaway but was eased after tiring badly. Todd Pletcher sends her back five weeks later with Marin aboard.
Girvy Girl also returns from the Spinaway, in which she finished sixth after a slow start. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., she earned a 78 Beyer when dominating her Gulfstream Park debut by 15 lengths.
Girvy Girl will have Micah Husbands up and is the lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite. Life Changing is 9-2.
Martiniwithatwist brings arguably the strongest local résumé. The Gary Capuano trainee has won two straight, rallying to break her maiden before edging Olivia’s Legacy in the Small Wonder Stakes Sept. 11. She has earned $120,775, the most in the field.
Capuano also entered Blue Hen winner Whitten Way, who finished a bland fourth behind Martiniwithatwist in the Small Wonder. Spectacular Sam remains a maiden but has finished second twice at a mile, most recently behind Emphatic in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth. She adds blinkers Saturday.
The Rocky Run is race seven with a 4:02 p.m. post, followed by the White Clay Creek at approximately 4:34.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
LATEST NEWS
