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

• RACES ON CARD: 9
• CARRYOVERS: None
• POST TIME: 12:30 p.m.

RACE 1

6. First Glimpse	Veteran fits here and in a race woefully short of early speed should be able to work out a good trip
1. Sir Exton	Saw three-race win streak snapped in latest but ran a good race against classy veteran Ournationonparade; do they send from the rail?
2. Melt With You	Thrashed allowance foes in latest and could be rounding back into better form

RACE 2

6. Big Tankness	In a short field, this one’s early lick could prove decisive; distance a question
4. Top Blood	Busy soph owns three wins already, two at the trip, and took a nice step forward in latest
2. Hey Big Un	A bit of a bland effort in latest behind the stakes winner Do It for Michael, but prior tries were fine, including a very troubled fourth two back

RACE 3

9. Royal Browne	Tough if drawing in despite poor last out when rank early
4. Kunooz	Has rallied to the lead in each of last two before fading late; new rider Cruz looks for perfectly timed ride
5. Fightnomoreforever	Consistent sort has been close twice versus similar; Chuan takes the mount
8. If I Were You	Didn’t miss by much in first turf try at the level

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RACE 4

8. Bird King	Galloped versus lesser in latest in second in Gorham barn; projected lively pace could work to his advantage
2. Striking Sparks	Has been facing much better; trainer Ness wins about 30% of the time on big class drops
6. Style Me Royal	First start in Maher barn

RACE 5

10. Smart Uncle	Has three ‘chasing wins since last flat try; show horses from last two flat tries have gone on to bigger and better things: one multiple graded stakes-placed, one a three-time winner
8. Gallant Lad	Near-misses in two straight; third off the bench
3. Luca Machine	“Sharp” outing in latest as this one and the winner accelerated away from the rest
1. Redemption Speight	Stuck behind horses until too late in latest with winner returning to win again

RACING NOTES

• Jockeys Martin Chuan and Carlos Lopez both won a pair Saturday. Chuan swept the early double with a pair of short-priced horses, while Lopez chimed in in the third and the eighth…
• The latter win for Lopez and both of Chuan’s triumphs came for leading trainer Jamie Ness, who won three on the day…
• Three-year-old Maida improved to two-for-three by besting her elders in a first allowance. Off at 3-2, she pressed the pace under jockey Kevin Gomez before drawing off to win by four lengths in 1:10.91 for six furlongs. She’s trained by Brittany Russell…
• In the afternoon feature, three-year-old Chipotle had too much for his rivals in a second allowance, winning by almost two lengths in 1:10.45. Raul Mena was up for trainer Michael Gorham. Chipotle has won five of six starts this year…

RACE 6

8. Easy Action	Veteran’s modest record is more of a product of placement — he’s been running mostly in allowance company — than talent; Churchill allowance winner in ’23 might be in a good spot to make it two straight wins with outside draw
5. Frosty the Giant	Speedy sort dials back to six furlongs for the first time in almost a year
2. Neon Sign	Galloped in latest

RACE 7

8. Recker Point	Solid outing in most recent on the lawn when finishing best of those involved in the early action; that race has produced two next-out winners and two others to run in the triple
7. St. John’s	Has toggled back and forth between flat and ‘chase; most recent flat outing was just ok, and none of eight to run back has won their follow-ups
5. Versus	Didn’t run badly when beaten less than three in the tale of the Cat behind prior stakes winner Tom’s Magic; still has upside

RACE 8

7. St. Jude	Making short work of his conditions and was dead game in latest, battling back after perfect-trip rival put a head in front in mid-stretch in a race that’s produced a next-out winner
1. Wild Vine	Veteran owns four wins at the trip
2. Adero	2024 stakes winner still looking for his first win of ’25, but he’s run well of late while chasing quality rivals

RACE 9

7. Brindano	Hasn’t run badly at one turn, now stretches out to what his breeding says should be just what he wants
1. Sandini	Speedy sophomore beat similar last out at Penn; trainer Capuano having a productive meet
4. Notturno	Even effort in last and gets blinkers on as he drops down to easier company; note that rider Cruz jumps ship to #1