Thursday, July 28 2011

Joe Rocco Jr. equals record for most wins on a card at Delaware Park

Stanton, Del., July 27, 2011 — Joseph Rocco, Jr., the current leading jockey at Delaware Park, won six races today which equals the record for most victories in a single day by a jockey at Delaware Park.

The 29-year-old native of Hollywood, Florida, won aboard his first five mounts on the day starting in the third with Pit Viper ($3.80). He followed with victories in the fourth with Bridgemix ($6.20), the fifth with Cash McCool ($3.80), the sixth with Settling for Gold ($5.80) and in the seventh with Like Candy (8.40). Rocco Jr., who notched his first career win at Tampa Bay Downs in 1999, did not have a mount in the eighth race, but in the ninth he scored aboard the Michael Matz trained Christmas Cove ($23.80) to notch his sixth winner.

Friday, July 22 2011

LIVE RACING AT DELAWARE PARK CANCELED FOR SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Upon advice of the Commission's Chief Veterinarian, John T. Peters and after consulting with Delaware Park's Executive Director of Racing, John Mooney, a decision was made to cancel the live racing program scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2011 due to extreme temperatures in our area that would pose a health risk to horses and participants.

Sunday, July 17 2011

Blind Luck wins Delaware Handicap by nose over Havre de Grace

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — It was a thrilling stretch battle to the end, and in the end Blind Luck had her nose in front of Havre de Grace on the wire in the Grade II Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park. Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Blind Luck, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2010, earned a spot in the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic, to be run at Churchill Downs on November 4, as the filly and mare classic is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race.

Mr. Ryder takes Sussex Stakes

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — Brushwood Stable’s Mr. Ryder notched his first career stake victory in the Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park today. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway posted a neck victory over Bim Bam, with David Cohen. It was another 3 ¼-lengths back to Mikoshi, with Garrett Gomez, in third. Mr. Ryder returned $5.00 as the favorite in the field of six and covered the mile and a sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:40.82.

Alma d’Oro by a nose over In the Juice Carpenter

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — In a thrilling stretch battle, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds’ Alma d’Oro, with Ramon Dominguez, scored a nose victory over In the Juice, with Wesley Ho, in the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park today. It was another 2 1/2-lengths further back to Nacho Friend, with Garrett Gomez, in third.

Thursday, July 14 2011

Blind Luck arrives at Delaware Park for Saturday’s Delaware Handicap

Newark, Del., July 13, 2011 — The California invader Blind Luck, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion, arrived at Delaware Park at approximately 4 p.m. today for her engagement in the $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap. The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer is slated to square off against the leading filly and mare in the country this year, Havre de Grace, and the defending Delaware Handicap champion, Life At Ten, in the mile-and-a-quarter filly and mare summer classic this Saturday.

In her final workout for the Delaware Handicap at her home base of Hollywood Park, the 4-year-old daughter Pollard’s Vision went four furlongs handily in :48.20 yesterday.

Wednesday, July 13 2011

DELPARK STAKE ADVANCES - SUSSEX & CARPENTER

Alma d’Oro tops R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial

Stanton, Del., July 12, 2011 — Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds tops the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile-and-a-sixteenth affair for 3-year-olds and upward has attracted a field of seven.

In his latest, the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro finished third in the Grade II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park on June 10. Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Todd Pletcher ran fourth in $60,000 One Count at Belmont Park. He sports a career record of six wins, three seconds and four thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $261,038. At Delaware Park, he has a record of two wins, two seconds and a third from six starts.

Tuesday, July 12 2011

Delaware Park Announces 2011 Wall of Fame Inductees

Stanton, Del., July 12, 2010 — Five of horse racing’s finest are being honored today with their induction into the Delaware Park Wall of Fame.

The class of 2011 consists of Susan’s Girl, Oscar White, William Hartack, Windfields Farm (E.P. Taylor), and John W. Rooney. Each inductee represents one of the following categories: horse, trainer, jockey, owner, and non-participant, respectively.

Havre de Grace-Blind Luck VI headlines 74th renewal of Delaware Handicap

Stanton, Del., July 12, 2011 - The old racetrack adage from long ago says with a "filly or mare go to Delaware," and the connections of the best fillies in the country, arguably the two best horse in training in the nation, are heeding that wisdom as the pair prepares to meet for the sixth time at the site where the rivalry began a year ago. Havre de Grace, the current leading filly and mare in the nation, and Blind Luck, the 2010 3-year-old filly champion, are slated to meet again at Delaware Park in the Delaware Handicap. Havre de Grace, locally-owned by Richard Porter's Fox Hill Farm, and California invader Blind Luck, owned by Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo and Jerry Hollendorfer, headline the 74th renewal of the $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap this Saturday. The mile-and-a-quarter filly and mare summer classic has attracted a field of five.

Blind Luck coming for Delaware Handicap

Stanton, Del., July 11, 2011 — Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Blind Luck, last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, will be shipping east from her home track of Hollywood Park, California, setting up a possible sixth showdown with the leading filly and mare in the country Havre de Grace in the mile-and-a-quarter $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap to be run this Saturday. The draw for the filly and mare summer classic will be on Tuesday, July 12.

“We are going to run,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “We hope we can come out and make a good effort. She has been training very well. She will be there Wednesday afternoon, and I am planning on arriving on Friday. We are not shy about going on the road because sometimes you have to do it, but all the guys who run, they all ship if they have too. We try to do the best thing for our horse, but the purse is big there, and we have never ducked anybody, especially with this filly. Sometimes we win and sometimes we take our lumps, but we are always in there trying. You know if you are running for big money, the race is supposed to be tough.”

Sunday, July 10 2011

Awesome Bet takes Babaro Stakes

Wilmington, Del., July 9, 2011 — Mike McCarty’s Awesome Bet won the $100,000 Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park today. With Kent Desormeaux aboard, the 3-year-old son of Awesome Again won by a neck over J W Blue with Sheldon Russell. It was another ¾-lengths further back to Meistersinger, with Jose Lezcano in third. The even-money favorite, Rush Now finished fourth.

Awesome Bet covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:40.37 and returned $20.00.

Cheetah steps it up in the Robert G. Dick

Wilmington, Del., July 9, 2011 — Robert Scarborough’s Cheetah notched her first career Graded stakes victory in the $200,000 Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park today. With Jose Lezcano aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiger Hill notched a 3 ¾-length in her third start in the North America. The Great Britain-bred conditioned by Christophe Clement returned $5.80 as the favorite in the field of twelve and covered the mile and three-eighths in 2.13.13 over a firm turf course.

Bubbly Jane, making her first start in over with a year with Kent Desormeaux aboard, finished second. It was another 1 ½-lengths further back to Dyna Waltz, with Julian Pimentel, in third. Ainamaa, with Abel Castellano Jr., set early fractions of 1:11.99 for the three-quarters and 1:36.85 for the mile before fading to fourth.