Tuesday, July 07 2009

DEL CAP FESTIVAL RACING NEWS & NOTES

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, July 7 – Trainer Brad Cox has made the move from Kentucky to Delaware with thirteen horses including a potential Delaware Handicap contender in K.C. Garrett Farm’s Temple Street.

“The summer time racing at home in Kentucky really falls off once the meet Churchill is over,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I have a couple of fillies I feel are stakes caliber and this time of year, there is really nothing at all for them. Delaware’s racing secretary Pat Pope was another reason for the move. He was very good to me this winter in Arkansas (Oaklawn). He was very gracious in giving me stalls in the middle of the Delaware meet which is huge. That is big for that to happen and I am very grateful for that.”

Monday, July 06 2009

NEW OUTFITS TARGET DELPARK

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, July 5 – Over the coming days look for an influx of more horses from about a half dozen or so new trainers to the Stanton-oval.

Steve Margolis, Neil Howard, Brad Cox, Robert O’Connor, Wallace Dollase and Helen Pitts-Blasi are among the new outfits shifting their operations east to Delaware Park this summer.

Monday, June 22 2009

Unbridled Belle romps in Obeah Stakes

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, June 20 - Team Valor International's Unbridled Belle clearly stamped herself as one of the favorites for the Delaware Handicap with an easy victory in the $125,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park today. The Obeah Stakes is the local prep for the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap to be run on July 19.

With Richard Migliore aboard, the 6-year-old daughter of Broken Vow won by 11-lengths and covered the mile and an eighth in 1:50.79 over a sloppy sealed track. The Kentucky-bred trained by Todd Pletcher returned $6.20 as the favorite in the field of seven. In 2007, she won the Delaware Handicap by 7 ¾-lengths. The following year, she won the Obeah Stakes before finishing third in the Delaware Handicap. Her Delaware Park record is five wins, a second, and a third from seven outings.

Thursday, June 18 2009

Barbaro’s full brother, Nicanor scores second career victory

Wilmington, Del., June 17, 2009 - Barbaro's full brother, Nicanor notched his second career victory at Delaware Park today. With Anna "Rosie" Napravnik astride, the 3-year-old son of Dynaformer prevailed by 1 ¾-lengths and covered the mile and an eighth turf allowance in 1:52.95 over a firm turf course. The Kentucky-bred trained by Michael Matz returned $2.80 as the favorite in the field of eight.

In his first start on the grass, Nicanor scored a 15 ¼-length in a mile and a sixteenth Delaware Park maiden event on May 13. Previously, in his three dirt outings at Gulfstream Park, he ran second in a one mile maiden on March 28, second in a seven furlong maiden on March 7, and unplaced after a troubled trip in a one mile maiden on January 31.

Delaware Park to Honor Retiring Trainer J. Larry Jones on June 20

Wilmington, Del., June 17, 2009 — Delaware Park will honor trainer J. Larry Jones for his accomplishments and dedication to racing with a special tribute at the Wilmington racetrack on Saturday, June 20.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet the nationally renowned trainer of Hard Spun and Eight Belles at 11 a.m. in the track’s family-friendly paddock and grove area. Later in the day, the fourth race (with an approximate post time of 2:36 p.m.) has been named in his honor as the J. Larry Jones Tribute. A presentation of a trophy will occur immediately after the race in the winner's circle.

Wednesday, June 17 2009

Unbridled Belle starts path to DelCap in Obeah Stakes

June 16, 2009, Wilmington, DE- Team Valor Stable's Unbridled Belle, the winner of the 2007 Delaware Handicap, will start her path toward the Delaware Handicap this year in the mile and one eighth $125,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The Obeah Stakes, the local prep for the mile and a quarter $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap to be run on July 19, has attracted a field of eight fillies and mares. The top four finishers in the Obeah will automatically earn a free nomination to the Delaware Handicap.

In her only start this year, Unbridled Belle ran fifth after bobbling at the start in the mile and a sixteenth $350,000 Grade II Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 1. Last year, the 6-year-old daughter of Broken Vow posted a record of a win and two thirds from four starts. Her lone victory in 2008 was in the Obeah Stakes. She followed with a third place finish in the Delaware Handicap. In 2007, the Kentucky-bred trained by Todd Pletcher ran second in the Obeah before winning the Delaware Handicap. She has a career record of six wins, three seconds and three thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $1,520,662.

Tuesday, June 16 2009

Barbaro’s brother, Nicanor , scheduled to run Wednesday at Delaware Park

Wilmington, Del., June 16 - Lael Stables' Nicanor, a full brother to Barbaro, has been entered to run at Delaware Park this Wednesday. The one mile and an eighth turf allowance is carded as the eighth race with an approximate post time of 4:24pm.

DELAWARE PARK, NTRA SAFETY AND INTEGRITY ALLIANCE LEADERS TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE

Wilmington, Del., June 15—The Honorable Jack Markell, Governor of Delaware, and former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson will join officials of Delaware Park and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association for a press conference related to the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Accreditation Review of the racetrack on Wednesday, June 17, at 10 a.m.

The press conference will be held in Delaware Park’s paddock area (weather permitting, otherwise in the New Castle Room).

Sunday, June 14 2009

No Use Denying splashes to victory in John W. Rooney Memorial

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, June 13 – Pin Oak Stable’s No Use Denying easily won the $75,000 John Rooney Memorial at Delaware Park today. The race was originally scheduled for the turf, but was transferred to the main track because of torrential downpours in the area. The switch from grass to dirt reduced the size of the field from 14 to three.

Wednesday, June 10 2009

Winter View tops John Rooney Memorial

June 9, 2009, Wilmington, DE- Augustin Stable's Winter View tops the $75,000 John W. Rooney Memorial at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile and an eighth turf test for fillies and mares has attracted a field of fourteen.

In her most recent outing, Winter View posted a 2-length score in the one mile and a half Grade III Bewitch Stakes on the Keeneland turf course on April 23. Previously, the 5-year-old daughter of Thunder Gulch notched a 2-length in a turf allowance at Keeneland on April 5. The Kentucky-bred trained by Jonathan Sheppard has a career record of four wins, a second and three thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $206,379.

Thursday, May 14 2009

Nicanor scores first career victory

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, May 13, 2009 – Nicanor, the brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, notched his first career victory at Delaware Park today. With Anna (Rosie) Napravnik astride, the Kentucky-bred trained by Michael Matz notched a 15 1/4-length score and completed the mile and a sixteenth on the turf in 1:46.31 in his first career race on the grass.

Sunday, April 26 2009

Acting Zippy springs upset in Vincent A. Moscarelli MemorialW

Wilmington, Del., April 25, 2009 - William Don Bennett and Carl Bowling's Acting Zippy posted an upset victory in the opening day feature, the $75,000 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial, at Delaware Park today.

With David Cohen astride, the 4-year-old gelded son of City Zip who has a weakness for tacos and donuts, returned $50.40 as the longest shot in the field of nine. The Florida-bred trained by William Don Bennett, who is in his first full year stabled at Delaware Park, notched a 4-length score and covered the six furlongs in 1:08.37.