DELAWARE PARK NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 2, 2007
by Albie Johnson
The meeting is dwindling down to a few precious days. It ends this weekend
with racing on Saturday and Sunday, including a pair of stakes, and a total of
19 Thoroughbred races. With the end of daylight savings time, first post on
closing day will be at 12:15 p.m. (ET).
A rather unusual situation took place here over the weekend with very heavy
rains resulting in a large number of scratches. So many that over the two day
period, management was forced into presenting three match races. They opted to
run the two on Saturday without wagering of any type, including multiple race
betting. More on that later.
One of the many traditional stakes run here, the Blue Hen at 1 1/16 miles for
two-year-old fillies, highlighted Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program. The $100,000
race went to SAKI TO ME (Fusaichi Pegasus), who remained undefeated with a very
impressive come-from-behind victory. In running her record to a perfect
three-for-three (all over this track), she broke from the rail, rated nicely for
Abel Castellano, responded when asked and drew clear under pressure. The win was
accomplished despite a very pedestrian pace on a sloppy, sealed track. Dagger
(Tactical Cat) also made up some ground to nail down the place, 1 3/4 lengths
behind the winner and two clear of Hidden Wish (Best of the Rest). Trainer
Edmond Gaudet had entered and scratched his runner from Friday’s $250,000
Epitome S. on the grass on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Monmouth.
Two of the three “match” races were basically over after a furlong, but the
one staged on Sunday was extremely exciting with a pair of veteran claimers who
between them owned 28 wins and more than $1.4 million in earnings. MY COUSIN
MATT (Matty G) allowed The Student (Arg) (Mutakddim) to open up a short lead,
bid inside around the turn, eased back and around down the stretch, and in a
heated late battle got up in the last two strides to win by a nose. Tony Dutrow
trains the former stakes runner, and Ramon Dominguez can be credited with a
masterful ride. Management, although not allowing win wagering, offered daily
double and Pick 3 betting involving this unusual race.
Track was listed as wet-fast on Saturday, sloppy and sealed on Sunday. Small
fields and the prevailing conditions produced many wire-to-wire winners over
those two days. However, the drying out of the main surface on the Monday thru
Wednesdays cards wound up being very kind to come-from-behind types, and also
the inside posts were a detriment over all three of those days.
HORSES TO WATCH
Not sure where most of these will show up next, but they’re still worth
following if you see them in the entries.
Saturday (10/27)
5TH — AIM TO VICTORY (Capote) showed a vastly improved effort in start
number two as he chased a wire-to-wire winner, bid strongly toward the leader,
could not get by, but easily held down the place position. Well-bet in both
outings, this Tony Dutrow-trained runner should break his maiden soon enough.
Sunday (10/28)
6TH– COYOTE TRUST (Gables) ran very well first off the Michael Gorham claim
in this starter allowance. He was boxed in at a crucial spot on the far turn and
lost some momentum. Recovered well and finished strongly to wind up third.
Runner improved as the season went along.
Monday (10/29)
6TH — BOMBAY (Menifee) continued his strong efforts, chasing an uncoupled
stablemate Pay the Preacher (Groomstick) who was a good stakes performer several
years back. Tried him a couple of times, but the fractions were too soft, and
the winner was long gone. Field was a good one for the level. Look for this one
to show up at Laurel or Aqueduct.
Tuesday (10/30)
8TH — EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled’s Song) just toyed with this group of
well-bred maidens in notching her maiden win in start number three. A $375,000
Keeneland 2006 September purchase, the juvenile filly stalked early, bid on the
far turn and drew off to win by 10 lengths. Trainer Larry Jones has had a
wonderful run with his two-year-olds and looks to be loaded on all levels for
next season.
TRAINER’S NOTEBOOK
All three of Delaware Park’s representatives acquitted themselves well in the
2007 edition of the Breeders’ Cup.
HARD SPUN (Danzig), trained by Jones, finished second in the Classic (G1).
PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen), another Jones pupil, finished second in the
Juvenile Fillies (G1).
MIRACULOUS MISS (Mr.Greeley), who is trained by Steve Klesaris, finished
second in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
With the meeting coming to an end this weekend, jockey Mario Pino is still
just shy of becoming the 15th rider to reach the 5,000-win plateau, and trainer
Scott Lake will enter the week three wins short of 100 victories again this year
at Delaware. Both are within easy reach with 19 races left.