Race 4: Post Time: 3:01PM The Dashing Beauty Stakes $100k F&M 6F
1st: #2 Bronx Beauty, the first of many wins for Jose Ortiz on this card, this one fresh off the Stakes triumph over Ms Locust Point at Pen which was the all-important second race back after the layoff. Only 4 and 5 lengths behind graded stakes beasts Dream Pauline and Shamrock Rose in last year in graded company, expect her to be at her best again here today getting the services of perhaps the top pilot in North America.
2nd: #3 Ms Locust Point, perhaps the top Miss in the Mid-Atlantic, I’m very surprised to see this is her first race at Del. Can’t project improvement now at age 5, but she’ll always give her best, which is very very good.
3rd: #5 Yorkiepoo Princess, considerable drop off after the top two, this one has top Beyers in the field after our top two.
Race 5: Post Time: 3:37PM The Just A Kiss Stakes $100k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf 1st: #9 Capla Temptress, how can you go against Bill Mott and Jose Ortiz in this one? The Grade 1 winner at age two followed up that season with a graded win in December at GP and a placing just two lengths behind turf monster Rushing Fall in the Lake Placid at Sar. She’s kept pretty strong company, 8-5 would be a gift. 2nd: #5 Lift Up, couldn’t really blame you if you wanted to try this one, would only do so if you get a significant price, 5-2 won’t do it for me. Michael Dickinson keeps a small string but usually has them feeling their best as you can see by his 39% winning percentage in 2019 so far. Second out of the season at age 4 you can definitely project significant improvement, just don’t think it’ll be enough to track down Capa Temptress.
3rd: #8 Monte Crista, how about mixing this one in in your vertical wagers? Mike Trombetta/Jorge Vargas combination off a little layoff. Shows a couple really good works at Fair Hill especially June 29 going 6F in 1:12 breezing.
Race 6: 4:13PM The Hockessin Stakes $100k 6F
1st: #5 No Dozing, really tough call here, for those playing the multi-race horizontals I’d be willing to press the “All” button. Crucial for me here is company kept and his late autumn of last year form was simply tremendous. Within 3 lengths of Whitmore and City of Light last year at the Spa followed by just a 2 length loss to G1 winner Patternrecognition and then finally his own graded stakes triumph by a whopping 9 lengths in the Bold Ruler at Aqueduct. Delacour gave him his warmup over at Laurel last month, he should be primed for his top form here.
2nd: #1 Colonel Sharp, appears to be rounding back into the form that saw him earn the stakes triumph in the Dave’s Friend last winter. Ran considerably behind Always Sunshine in the two back locally but followed up it up with a triumph of his own going just a tick faster in the most recent.
3rd: #4 Always Sunshine, couldn’t blame anyone for taking this one on top, the runner up from last year is coming off a OC$50k win locally earning a big 99 Beyer for that effort. 2 for 3 with a second place finish locally. Connections thought highly enough of him to try the Breeder’s Cup Sprint where he was considerably outclassed. Wanted to put on top but the bit of the layoff after the first one back spooked me a bit, wonder if that huge performance took something out of him.
Race 7: Post Time: 4:49PM The Glasgow Stakes $100k 7 & 1/2F Turf
1st: #6 Parlor, Jose Ortiz again you say? Absolutely. Eddie Kenneally brings this one up after a very close finish in the G2 Wise Dan losing by less than a length at 33-1 that earned him a 97 Beyer. His Beyers are simply on another level compared to this field, Kenneally throws the blinkers on today and is hitting 35% when he does so.
2nd: #9 Abiding Star, love the form since transferring into the Allard barn. He’ll be on the lead early, 7 & 1/2 a tricky distance but depending on how the turf is playing it’s short enough that a speed horse could wire the field.
3rd: #11 Just Howard, definitely keeping among the best company in the field including a 3rd place finish just half a length behind Catholic Boy, which you’d think would be enough to put him first in this field. He just has the look of a plodder; a horse that needs an absolute total break-down of the race in order get his nose in front at the wire. Perhaps Motion knows what he’s doing shortening this one up, but there’s no proof that he has that second and third gear that is required especially at this distance.
Race 8: Post Time: 5:25PM The Grade 2 Delaware Handicap $750k F&M 1 & 1/4M
1st: #7 Elate, the defending champ, one of the top 2 or 3 best racemares in North America at the moment. She found her form at Churchill after a couple mediocre efforts behind Midnight Bisou, but the key here is the distance. She won going this distance in the G1 Alabama at three, and this race last year. Those 8.5F races were simply warm ups for this event. Back to back for Mott/Jose Ortiz here. 2nd: #2 Gotham Gala, 4 year old ran huge in the Obeah, the local prep for this one earning an 88 Beyer. Looks like the type that wants to run all day and I love that she wants the lead. Could there be a massive upset if the dirt is playing lightning fast and she gets away easy?
3rd: #6 Blue Prize, the second classiest in the field, she was just a length and a half behind Monomoy Girl in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff last year. I wonder if she’ll enjoy going farther today, a lot of her performances show her coming on strong in the end,.