Tuesday, August 19 2008

Menacing tops Kelso Stakes

Robert S. Evans' Menacing tops the $100,000 Kelso Stakes to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile and a half main track marathon for 3-year-olds and upward has attracted a field of seven.

The last four starts for Menacing have been at Delaware Park. In his most recent, the Kentucky-bred trained by Tim Ritchey ran fourth in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 RRM Carpenter Jr. Memorial at Delaware Park on July 12. Previously, the 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid ran third beaten 4 ½-lengths to Honest Man (recent winner of the Grade III Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth) in a mile and a sixteenth allowance. On May 10, he finished fourth in the mile and a sixteenth $75,000 Brandywine Stakes. In his only other outing at Delaware Park this year, he ran second in a mile and a seventy yard allowance on April 20. His Delaware Park career record is three wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts. His lifetime record is four wins, three seconds and a third from 17 starts with earnings of $170,960.

Thursday, August 14 2008

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/13/8

McCANN'S MOJAVE COMMITTED TO PACIFIC CLASSIC; SURF CAT WORKS; STUDENT COUNCIL ON HIS WAY TO DEFEND TITLE

Owner Mike Willman put McCann's Mojave officially in the mix Tuesday for Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24 at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.

The announcement came two days after the 8-year-old son of Memo put in a sizzling 6-furlong work in 1:10.60 at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California. The horse, who has posted career earnings of $1.5 million, is trained by Steve Specht and was fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup in his most recent start. He's scheduled to work one more time -- one mile at Golden Gate Fields Saturday -- and ship to Del Mar on Monday.

Sunday, August 03 2008

Stones River takes Nick Shuk Memorial

Two Bucks Stable and Glenn Bromagen's Stones River scored his fourth consecutive win and first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Nick Shuk Memorial at Delaware Park today. The Shuk was originally scheduled to be run on the grass, but due to heavy rains in the area in this morning, the race was transferred to the main track.

Ridden by Terry Thompson, Stones River, the 4-to-5 favorite in the field of six, won by 4 1/2-lengths. The 3-year-old son Monarchos covered the mile and a sixteenth on a fast track in 1:44.47 and returned $3.80. Knight in Armour, with Joseph Rocco Jr. aboard, finished second a half length in front of Sinners Repent, with Rosemary Homeister Jr., in third.

Stones River, a Kentucky-bred trained by J. Larry Jones, raised his career record to four wins from seven starts with earnings of $124,185.

Wednesday, July 30 2008

Mr Maccool gets stakes test in Nick Shuk Memorial

Donamire Farm's Mr Maccool will get his first stakes test in the mile and a sixteenth on the turf $75,000 Nick Shuk Memorial at Delaware Park this Saturday. The local prep for the $500,000 Grade III Kent Stakes (including $100,000 Breeders' Cup fund), has attracted a field of twelve of which four are entered as main track only. The Kent Stakes, a mile and an eighth on the turf for 3-year-olds, is scheduled to be run August 30.

Tuesday, July 22 2008

POPULIST TOPS DENISE RHUDY MEMORIAL

John Fike's Populist tops the $75,000 Denise Rhudy Memorial to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. The one mile and a sixteenth turf contest for 3-year-old fillies has attracted a field of eleven.

In her most recent outing, Populist scored 1 ¾-length victory in the mile and a sixteenth $55,000 St. Georges Stakes at Delaware Park on June 28. The St. Georges was originally scheduled for the turf, but was transferred to the main track. Previously, the daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus, won a mile and a sixteenth allowance by ¾-lengths at Pimlico on May 31. The Kentucky-bred trained by Gary Capuano sports a career record of three wins, a second and a third from six starts with earnings of $87,810.

Monday, July 14 2008

Hystericalady victorious in Delaware Handicap

Hystericalady won the 71st renewal of the $1million Grade II Delaware Handicap today. With Garrett Gomez in the irons, the 5-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor won by 4-lengths and covered the mile and a quarter in 2:02.37. Lemon Drop Mom, with Jose Caraballo, ran second and it was another ¾-lengths farther back to the 2-to-1 favorite Unbridled Belle with Ramon Dominguez. Hystericalady returned $7.00 as the third choice in the field of eight. The Kentucky-bred raised her career record to ten wins from 20 starts with earnings of $2,110,556.

Saturday, July 12 2008

DELAWARE OAKS, ROBERT G. DICK, RRM CARPENTER JR. RECAPS

Proud Spell bounces back to score Delaware Oaks victory

Brereton Jones' Proud Spell wore down her rivals in the final furlong and won the $500,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park today. Ridden by Gabriel Saez, the daughter of Proud Citizen won by ¾-lengths and covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.34 over a fast main track. The Kentucky-bred trained by the leading Delaware Park trainer J. Larry Jones returned $2.60 as the favorite in the field of six. African Violet, with Cornelio Velasquez, ran second and it was another 2-lengths farther back to Shes All Eltish, with Eddie Castro, in third. Maren's Meadow, with Mario Pino, set early fractions of :48.53 for the half mile and 1:11.95 for the three quarters mile before fading into fifth place.

Wednesday, July 09 2008

Roman Emperor going for Barbaro double

Puglisi Stables and Steve Klesaris' Roman Emperor, the recent winner of the Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico, will look to capture the Delaware Park version of the Barbaro Stakes this Sunday. The mile and a sixteenth $300,000 Grade III affair for 3-year-olds has attracted a field of six. Approximate post time for the Barbaro Stakes is 5:13 p.m.

In his last, Roman Emperor posted a half length triumph in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico on May 17. Previously the Kentucky-bred trained by Steve Klesaris ran seventh in the mile and an eighth $750,000 Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5.

DELAWARE PARK ANNOUNCES 2008 WALL OF FAME CLASS

Wilmington, Delaware. Delaware Park Racetrack, and Slots announced today the selection of five deserving inductees into the Delaware Park Wall of Fame.

The class of 2008 consists of Damascus, Virgil "Buddy" Raines, Chris McCarron, Foxcatcher Farms and R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. These inductees were selected by a panel of Delaware Park executives. An inductee was chosen from each of the following categories: horse, trainer, jockey, owner, and non-participant, respectively with only one nominee from each category elected.

Unbridled Belle tops Delaware Handicap

The defending champion, Team Valor Stable's Unbridled Belle tops a field of eleven entered in the 71st renewal of the $1 million Grade II Delaware Handicap this Sunday. For the first time, the mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares has been designated as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Classic on October 24.

Last year, Unbridled Belle won the Delaware Handicap by 7 ¾-lengths, which was the largest margin of victory since the distance was extended to a mile and a quarter in 1951. The 5-year-old daughter of Broken Vow followed by running second in the Grade I Personal Ensign at Saratoga, winning the Grade I Beldame at Belmont and then closing her 2007 campaign with by running fifth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. In her only outing this year, the Kentucky-bred trained by Todd Pletcher won the mile and an eighth $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 14. Her career record is six wins, three seconds and a third from 15 starts with earnings of $1,359,340.

Tuesday, July 08 2008

DELAWARE HANDICAP FESTIVAL OF RACING NOTES

Brereton Jones' Proud Spell, the winner of the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, was a surprise entrant into the mile and a sixteenth $500,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks this Saturday. If she runs, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Proud Citizen tops a field of eight entered in the Oaks. The approximate post time for the race is 4:02 p.m.

"She has healed very nicely from her lacerations," said trainer J. Larry Jones. "We backed off on her training regiment and went light with her. What appeared to be bad luck has actually turned into good luck for us. She has progressed to the point where we feel comfortable entering her in this spot and there is a good chance we will run her."

Sunday, July 06 2008

Ginger Punch gets top weight in the Delaware Handicap

Stronach Stables' Ginger Punch received top weight of 124 pounds for the 71st renewal of the $1,000,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap to be run on Sunday, July 13. For the first time, he mile and a quarter classic for fillies and mares as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner automatically qualifying for the Ladies' Classic to be run on October 24.

Defending Delaware Handicap champion, Team Valor Stable's Unbridled Belle, received second high weight of 122 pounds.