Wednesday, June 15 2011

Apple Charlotte seeks first career stake victory in John Rooney Memorial

Stanton, Del., June 15, 2011 — A full field of 13 fillies and mares have been entered in the $75,000 John Rooney Memorial Stakes to be run this Saturday at Delaware Park. The mile-and-a-sixteenth turf affair is named after the former vice-president of racing and vice-president of finance who served Delaware Park for 44 years.

Tuesday, June 14 2011

DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - JUNE 13 2011

Wilmington, Del., June 13, 2011 — Paul Fowler’s Line Change posted an upset victory in the $50,000 Floor Show Overnight Stakes at Delaware Park today. The Kentucky-bred trained by Gary Capuano returned $24.60 as the second longest shot in the field of six.

With Joshua Navarro aboard, the 3-year-old son Toccet out dueled the 6-to-5 favorite J W Blue, with Joseph Rocco Jr. aboard, in the stretch before winning by a head. I’m Steppin’ It Up, with Rosie Napravnik, cut early fractions of :48.39 for the half mile and 1:12.64 for three-quarters mile before fading to third 5-lengths behind the winner.

Saturday, June 11 2011

Havre de Grace takes Obeah Stakes; Del ‘Cap next

Wilmington, Del., June 11, 2011 — As expected, Havre de Grace cruised to an easy victory in the $150,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park today. The next start for the filly, locally owned by Richard Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, will be in the filly and mare summer classic – the mile and a quarter $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 16.

The 4-year-old daughter of Saint Liam won by 2 1/4-lengths and returned $2.40 as the favorite in the field of five. With Gabriel Saez astride, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by J. Larry Jones covered the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:49.87 over a fast main track.

Wednesday, June 08 2011

Havre de Grace looms large in Grade III Obeah Stakes

Stanton, Del., June 8, 2011 — Havre de Grace is a formidable presence in the mile-and-an-eighth $150,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. A field of five fillies and mares have been entered in the last local prep for the mile-and-a-quarter $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 16. The top four finishers in the Obeah automatically earn a free nomination to the Delaware Handicap.

Trainer J. Larry Jones has followed the old Delaware Park adage “with a filly and mare go to Delaware”, and he has enjoyed success.

Wednesday, June 01 2011

Daring Reality may be peaking at right time

Stanton, Del., June 1, 2011 — David and Margaret Wimer’s Daring Reality tops a field of five in the mile-and-70-yard $75,000 Go For Wand Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The Go For Wand, named after the 1989 2-year-old filly and 1990 3-year-old filly champion locally owned by Christiana Stables, is the local prep for the mile-and-a sixteenth $300,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks to be run on July 9.

In her most recent, Daring Reality posted a 1½-length score at odds of 23.30-to-1 in the one-mile-and-70-yard $60,000 Wanda Stakes at Belmont Park on May 8.

Tuesday, May 17 2011

PREAKNESS, BLACK-EYED SUSAN SIMULCASTS AVAILABLE AT BELMONT AND AQUEDUCT

ELMONT, N.Y. – Live Triple Crown action returns to New York on June 11 with the 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes. This weekend, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack are the best places to watch simulcast action from Pimlico Race Course, home of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, in addition to quality live racing in New York.

On Friday, May 20, Belmont and Aqueduct will offer wagering on the 13-race Black-Eyed Susan Day card at Pimlico, as well as advance wagering on Saturday’s Preakness. Also available on-track and through Telebet is wagering on the Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double.

DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - MAY 16

Rosie Napravnik returns to Delaware Park in winning fashion

Wilmington, Del., May 16, 2011 — After making a run at racing history in the Kentucky Derby, the leading jockey from last year, Rosie Napravnik returned to Delaware Park in winning fashion today. In her first day back to the Stanton oval, the 23-year-old native of Morristown, New Jersey, won aboard two of her five mounts.

She notched her first winner of the season in the seventh race when she guided the Gregory Griffith conditioned Rock Lobster to a neck victory against seven rivals in a one mile claiming event. She followed by winning the eighth race aboard the Michael Stidham trained Dreaming Blue, who defeated five rivals by 7 ½-lengths in a mile and a seventy yard maiden.

Sunday, May 15 2011

DELPARK NOTES - MAY 14 2011

Wilmington, Del., May 14, 2010 — In the first local prep on the road to the Grade II Delaware Handicap, Cresran’s Tiz Miz Sue notched a 1 ¼-length victory in the $50,700 Winter Melody Overnight Stakes at Delaware Park.

With Joseph Rocco, Jr. aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow covered the mile and sixteenth in 1:42.55 over a fast track and returned $4.20 as the favorite in the field of seven. Sarah’s Song, with Gabriel Saez, set early fractions of :47.01 for the half and 1:11.22 for the three-quarters before finishing second. It was another 5 ¼-lengths farther back to Bahama Bound, with Victor Santiago, in third.

Thursday, May 12 2011

DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - MAY 11 2011

Wilmington, Del., May 11, 2011 —After making a run at racing history in the Kentucky Derby, the leading jockey from last year, Rosie Napravnik is scheduled to make her return to Delaware Park this Monday. The 23-year-old native of Morristown, New Jersey, who finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby aboard Pants on Fire, has six scheduled mounts on the Monday card.

Last year, Napravnik became the first female rider in the history of Delaware Park to capture the leading jockey title by posting a record of 126 winners from 529 mounts. She followed up her Delaware Park success by winning the Louisiana Derby and capturing the leading jockey title at the Fair Grounds, and in so doing she became the first female to win the Louisiana Derby and the first female to win the Fair Grounds jockey title.

Wednesday, May 11 2011

Sarah’s Song tries Stakes Company in the Winter Melody overnight stakes

Newark, Del., May 10, 2011 — The local road to the July 16 Delaware Handicap will begin this Saturday when 10 fillies and mares go post ward in the mile-and-a-sixteenth $50,000 Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware Park. The next local prep for the $750,000 Grade II mile-and-a-quarter classic is the mile-and-an-eighth $150,000 Grade III Obeah Stakes on June 11.

After a sensational winter campaign at Oaklawn Park, Sarah’s Song will be stepping in against stakes company for the first time in her career.

Monday, May 09 2011

DELPARK NEWS & NOTES - MAY 9 2011

Wilmington, Del., May 9, 2010 — Ben Mondello’s Kiernan’s Legacy made every step a winning one in the featured $41,000 allowance race at Delaware Park today.

With Julian Pimentel aboard, the 6-year-old son Perigee Moon cut early fractions of 22.71 for the quarter and :45.76 for the half before completing the six furlongs in 1:09.04 over a fast main track. The Ontario-bred conditioned by Scott Lake won by 5 1/4-lengths and returned $5.80 as the second choice in the field of six.

Wednesday, May 04 2011

Comedero fresh, fit and ready for Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial

Stanton, Del., May 3, 2011 — Peter Redekop’s Comedero should be a fresh, fit and ready for his engagement in the $75,000 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The six furlong event for 3-year-olds and upward has attracted a field of eleven.

In his only outing this year, the 4-year-old gelded son of Posse posted a 10 ¾-length victory a $50,000 state-bred stake at Oaklawn Park on April 2. Last year, the Arkansas-bred conditioned by Michael Stidham won his first five races of the season by a combined margin of 29 ½-lengths before finishing second and unplaced in his last three. His final victory in 2010, the seven furlong $400,000 Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town on June 19, may have taken just a little bit to much out of him.