Delaware Park Notebook

DELAWARE PARK NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 2, 2007

by Albie Johnson

The meeting is dwindling down to a few precious days. It ends this weekend

with racing on Saturday and Sunday, including a pair of stakes, and a total of

19 Thoroughbred races. With the end of daylight savings time, first post on

closing day will be at 12:15 p.m. (ET).

A rather unusual situation took place here over the weekend with very heavy

rains resulting in a large number of scratches. So many that over the two day

period, management was forced into presenting three match races. They opted to

run the two on Saturday without wagering of any type, including multiple race

betting. More on that later.

One of the many traditional stakes run here, the Blue Hen at 1 1/16 miles for

two-year-old fillies, highlighted Saturday's Breeders' Cup program. The $100,000

race went to SAKI TO ME (Fusaichi Pegasus), who remained undefeated with a very

impressive come-from-behind victory. In running her record to a perfect

three-for-three (all over this track), she broke from the rail, rated nicely for

Abel Castellano, responded when asked and drew clear under pressure. The win was

accomplished despite a very pedestrian pace on a sloppy, sealed track. Dagger

(Tactical Cat) also made up some ground to nail down the place, 1 3/4 lengths

behind the winner and two clear of Hidden Wish (Best of the Rest). Trainer

Edmond Gaudet had entered and scratched his runner from Friday's $250,000

Epitome S. on the grass on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Monmouth.

Two of the three "match" races were basically over after a furlong, but the

one staged on Sunday was extremely exciting with a pair of veteran claimers who

between them owned 28 wins and more than $1.4 million in earnings. MY COUSIN

MATT (Matty G) allowed The Student (Arg) (Mutakddim) to open up a short lead,

bid inside around the turn, eased back and around down the stretch, and in a

heated late battle got up in the last two strides to win by a nose. Tony Dutrow

trains the former stakes runner, and Ramon Dominguez can be credited with a

masterful ride. Management, although not allowing win wagering, offered daily

double and Pick 3 betting involving this unusual race.

Track was listed as wet-fast on Saturday, sloppy and sealed on Sunday. Small

fields and the prevailing conditions produced many wire-to-wire winners over

those two days. However, the drying out of the main surface on the Monday thru

Wednesdays cards wound up being very kind to come-from-behind types, and also

the inside posts were a detriment over all three of those days.

HORSES TO WATCH

Not sure where most of these will show up next, but they're still worth

following if you see them in the entries.

Saturday (10/27)

5TH -- AIM TO VICTORY (Capote) showed a vastly improved effort in start

number two as he chased a wire-to-wire winner, bid strongly toward the leader,

could not get by, but easily held down the place position. Well-bet in both

outings, this Tony Dutrow-trained runner should break his maiden soon enough.

Sunday (10/28)

6TH-- COYOTE TRUST (Gables) ran very well first off the Michael Gorham claim

in this starter allowance. He was boxed in at a crucial spot on the far turn and

lost some momentum. Recovered well and finished strongly to wind up third.

Runner improved as the season went along.

Monday (10/29)

6TH -- BOMBAY (Menifee) continued his strong efforts, chasing an uncoupled

stablemate Pay the Preacher (Groomstick) who was a good stakes performer several

years back. Tried him a couple of times, but the fractions were too soft, and

the winner was long gone. Field was a good one for the level. Look for this one

to show up at Laurel or Aqueduct.

Tuesday (10/30)

8TH -- EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song) just toyed with this group of

well-bred maidens in notching her maiden win in start number three. A $375,000

Keeneland 2006 September purchase, the juvenile filly stalked early, bid on the

far turn and drew off to win by 10 lengths. Trainer Larry Jones has had a

wonderful run with his two-year-olds and looks to be loaded on all levels for

next season.

TRAINER'S NOTEBOOK

All three of Delaware Park's representatives acquitted themselves well in the

2007 edition of the Breeders' Cup.

HARD SPUN (Danzig), trained by Jones, finished second in the Classic (G1).

PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen), another Jones pupil, finished second in the

Juvenile Fillies (G1).

MIRACULOUS MISS (Mr.Greeley), who is trained by Steve Klesaris, finished

second in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

With the meeting coming to an end this weekend, jockey Mario Pino is still

just shy of becoming the 15th rider to reach the 5,000-win plateau, and trainer

Scott Lake will enter the week three wins short of 100 victories again this year

at Delaware. Both are within easy reach with 19 races left.