Tuesday, January 17 2012
Hometown filly, Havre de Grace, named Horse of the Ye
Stanton, Del., January 17 2012 — A filly from the Mid-Atlantic region, who was stabled in barn 22 at Delaware Park much of this past year, achieved something that Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Barbaro, Hard Spun and Animal Kingdom could not. Havre de Grace, locally-owned by Richard Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, won 2011 Horse of the Year honors and became the first locally connected horse to win the award since the legendary Spectacular Bid won the honor in 1980. The announcement was made late last night at the 41st annual Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills, California.
Havre de Grace was stabled at Delaware Park from April through late September. The Kentucky-bred trained by J. Larry Jones won the Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park before suffering her first lost of the year when she ran second, beaten by a nostril, against her arch-rival Blind Luck in what many have dubbed “The Race of the Year” in the $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap. Undeterred, the daughter of Saint Liam followed with a victory in the Woodward, against the boys at Saratoga, a win in the Beldame at Belmont and a fourth-place outing, versus males, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Wednesday, November 09 2011
Delaware Park News & Notes Meet concludes after historic moments
Wilmington, Del., November 5, 2011 — The 74th live racing season at Delaware Park concluded with mixed results on Saturday. The racing season was highlighted by one of the most memorable races in the history of the track, while the all sources handle (live on-track and live simulcasting-out) decreased.
In the 74th renewal of the Grade II Delaware Handicap, California invader Blind Luck defeated her arch-rival and locally-based Havre de Grace by a nostril in what many have dubbed the “The Race of the Year.” Undeterred, Havre de Grace, who was stabled at Delaware Park, followed with a victory in the Woodward, against the boys at Saratoga, a win in the Beldame at Belmont and a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. If the 4-year-old daughter of Saint Liam owned by Wilmington, Delaware native Rick Porter and conditioned by Delaware Park regular J. Larry Jones is voted the Horse of the Year, she would become the first locally-based horse to achieve the honor since Spectacular Bid won the award in 1980.
Tuesday, November 01 2011
CLOSING DAY SATURDAY/DELPARK BREEDERS’ CUP HORSES
Stanton, Del., November 1, 2011 — A strong contingent of local horses seeking national glory in the Breeders’ Cup Championships highlights Closing Day for the 74th season of live racing at Delaware Park this Saturday.
The 11-race live racing program is set to get underway with a special 11:45 a.m. post time for the first race. The 12-race Breeders’ Cup program, simulcast from Churchill Downs, will begin with a first race post time of 12:05 p.m. On Friday, the Breeders’ Cup Ladies card will have a first race post time of 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 13 2011
DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - 10-12-11 - HAVRE DE GRACE DAY
Stanton, Del., October 12, 2011 — The Honorable Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, has declared this Saturday, October 15, as Havre de Grace Day in honor of the locally-owned Delaware Certified filly. The 4-year-old owned by Wilmington, Delaware native Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, will make her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Chruchill Downs on November 5. A victory in the Classic would all but assure her Horse of the Year title and make her the first locally-based horse to win the award since Spectacular Bid won the award in 1980.
In celebration of the day, the first 1,000 fans that come out to Delaware Park will receive an 8x10 commemorative photo of Havre de Grace.
DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - NAPRAVNIK EXCITED ABOUT RETURN
Wilmington, Del., October 12, 2011 — After breaking her arm when her mount went down at Delaware Park on July 7th, jockey Rosie Napravnik is set for her return to the saddle this Saturday.
"I am very excited about riding again" said Rosie Napravnik. "I have been working hard on getting fit and I am ready to ride. I feel like I have done it all the right way. I have given my wrist the time to heal properly, I have been working out and I have been breezing horses in the morning. I am just really excited about getting back to riding. I am planning on riding until the end of ther Delaware Park meet and then I am planning on returning to the Fair Grounds."
Wednesday, October 12 2011
DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - OCT. 12 - LOCAL HORSES EYE BREEDERS’ CUP GLORY
Stanton, Del., October 12, 2011 — The past, the present and the future of Delaware racing will be on full display like never before on horse racing's most important weekend of the year - the Breeders' Cup Championships on November 4 and 5. Following in the tradition of Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Barbaro, Hard Spun, Eight Belles and Animal Kingdom, locally owned, trained, stabled, and raced horses are set to take center stage in the national spotlight at Churchill Downs.
And the stakes have never been higher. Instead of Triple Crown glory, year-end championship honors will be on the line. The Eclipse Awards are voted on by the National Turf Writers and Racing Secretaries and will be announced on January 16.
DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - OCT. 11 - RETURN OF ROSIE NAPRAVNIK SATURDAY
Stanton, Del., October 11, 2011 — After breaking her arm when he mount went down at Delaware Park on July 7th, jockey Rosie Napravnik is set for her return to the saddle this Saturday. The 23-year-old native of Morristown, New Jersey, has five scheduled mounts at Delaware Park. She is scheduled to ride in the second, third, seventh, eighth and ninth races. First race post time for the nine race card, highlighted by four Delaware Certified Stakes worth $75,000 each, is 1:15 p.m.
Before the injury, Napravnik was leading the Delaware Park jockey standings with 36 wins.
Sunday, October 09 2011
Mr. Bowling scores first career stakes victory in Dover Stakes
Wilmington, Del., October 8, 2011 — Brereton Jones’ Mr. Bowling notched his first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Dover Stakes at Delaware Park today.
With Jose Caraballo aboard, the 2-year-old son of Istan won by 7 1/4-lengths and returned $4.00 as the favorite in the field of five. The Kentucky-bred conditioned by J. Larry Jones covered the mile-and-seventy yards in 1:42.77 over a fast main track.
Wednesday, October 05 2011
Lemon Juice tops Dover Stakes
Stanton, Del., October 4, 2011 — PTK LLC’s Lemon Juice tops the $75,000 Dover Stakes to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. The one-mile-and-70-yard affair has attracted a field of eight 2-year-olds.
In his most recent, Lemon Juice posted a length triumph in the seven-furlong $100,000 Charles Town Juvenile on September 17. Previously, the son of Johannesburg ran second, beaten 3 ¼-lengths in a five-and-a-half-furlong allowance at Laurel Park on September 9.. On July 23, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Dane Kobiskie broke his maiden going five-and-a-half-furlongs over the Colonial Downs turf. He has a career record of three wins, two seconds and a third from six starts, with earnings of $102,105. Lemon Juice will be part of the three horse PTK LLC coupling with Doe and Educator.
Sunday, October 02 2011
Grace Hall easily takes Blue Hen Stakes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Next
Wilmington, Del., October 1, 2011 — After posting an impressive win in the Grade I Spinaway, Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables’ and The Elkstone Group’s Grace Hall followed with an easy victory in the $75,000 Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park today. The locally-stabled daughter of Empire Maker will make her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on November 4th.
With the current Delaware Park jockey Joseph Rocco Jr. aboard, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by locally-based trainer Anthony Dutrow scored a 5 ¾-length triumph and returned $2.80 as the favorite in the field of four. She covered the mile and seventy yards in 1:42.36 over a fast main track to raise her record to three-for-three with earnings of $219,000.
Wednesday, September 28 2011
Grace Hall tops Blue Hen Stakes
Stanton, Del., September 27, 2011 — Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and The Elkstone Group’s locally-stabled Grace Hall, the recent winner of the Grade I Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga, tops the $75,000 Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile-and-70-yard affair for 2-year-old fillies has attracted a field of seven.
In her most recent effort, the daughter of Empire Maker became the 23rd graded stakes winner since 2002 to break their maiden at Delaware Park when she notched a 1 ¾-length triumph in the seven-furlong $250,000 Spinaway Stakes on September 4. In her only other career outing the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Anthony Dutrow notched a three-length score in a six-furlong maiden at Delaware Park on July 30. She will be ridden by Joseph Rocco Jr., and she has been installed as the 6-to-5 morning-line favorite.
Sunday, September 25 2011
Trainer Anthony Pecoraro notches career win 1,000 with in Kent Stakes with I’m Steppin’ It up
Wilmington, Del., September 24, 2011 — Trainer Anthony Pecoraro notched his 1,000th career victory when I’m Steppin’ It Up won the $250,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park today. The Kent Stakes was originally scheduled for the turf, but was transferred to the main track after heavy rains soaked the area yesterday.
With Jeremy Rose aboard, the 3-year-old son of Congrats notched a 2-length front running score. The Florida-bred cut early fractions of :49.04 for the half mile and 1:13.18 for the three-quarters mile before completing the mile and an eighth in 1:50.50 over a good main track. He returned $10.80 as the third-choice in the field of six.
