The Bottom Line
- Miss Mo Town (12:52pm, 2/1) — the Jamie Ness/Ruben Silvera combination is the one they all have to beat at this track.
- Tatters (1:56pm, 5/2) — Michael Matz juvenile can spring the mild upset in the Dover Stakes.
- Witchy Vibes (3:00pm, 5/2) — debut-winning Epicenter filly for John Servis in the Blue Hen Stakes.
- Doctor Jeff (3:32pm, 3/2) — short but solid banker in the 5-furlong turf dash.
Meeting Context
Delaware Park stages one of its feature Saturdays of the summer, an eight-race card headlined by a pair of $75,000 juvenile stakes — the Dover Stakes and the Blue Hen Stakes — either side of some competitive turf racing. First post is 12:20pm ET.
The forecast for Wilmington is patchy early fog then mostly sunny with a high of 91F, though there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm — worth monitoring for the late turf races, with three scheduled for the lawn. Odds quoted are the morning line, correct at time of writing.
The big storyline: trainer Gary Capuano saddles the morning-line favorite in both stakes with Seven’s Nitro and Whitten Way. If you are playing other mid-Atlantic and East Coast cards, our Monmouth Park picks and Saratoga picks for today are also live.
Race 1, 12:20pm — $7,500 Claiming, 1 Mile (Dirt)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It a Lee | Angel Cruz | Kelly Lynn Deiter | 7/2 |
| 2 | Zaino | S. Yancapallo Gomocio | Christopher Shaw | 15/1 |
| 3 | Guard of Honour | Ajhari Williams | Martin Hinckson | 12/1 |
| 4 | Double Miles | Jose Batista | Michael Simone | 9/5 |
| 5 | Tell ‘Em I’m Comin | Matilda Burnham | Jose Corrales | 15/1 |
| 6 | Knockout Guy | Teshawn Hazelwood | Johnathon Feron | 15/1 |
| 7 | Tug | Emanuel Rosario | J. Badillo-Casado | 5/2 |
| 8 | Sharp Wonder | Wesley Ho | Jose Gallegos | 6/1 |
The Favorites: Double Miles heads the market at 9/5 for the in-form Jose Batista, with Tug next in at 5/2 under Emanuel Rosario.
The Value: It a Lee at 7/2 gets Angel Cruz and could outrun his price if the top two take each other on early.
The Verdict: Double Miles to get the card off to a chalky start.
Race 2, 12:52pm — $12,500 Claiming, Fillies & Mares, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miss Mo Town | Ruben Silvera | Jamie Ness | 2/1 |
| 2 | Final Engagement | Angel Cruz | John Robb | 3/1 |
| 3 | Go Alice Go | Noel Herman | James Nicholson Jr | 10/1 |
| 4 | Panchita | Paul Luna | Pedro Nazario | 4/1 |
| 5 | Racquel Blue | Julio Hernandez | McLean Robertson | 6/1 |
| 6 | Izzy’s Rock Star | Ronaldo Rodriguez | Pedro Posadas | 8/1 |
| 7 | Rio Oso | Edgar Villasmil | Kelly Lynn Deiter | 8/1 |
The Favorites: Miss Mo Town represents the Jamie Ness barn, perennially among the leaders at this meet, and Ruben Silvera rides for the powerful connections. Final Engagement is the obvious danger for veteran Maryland conditioner John Robb.
The Value: Panchita at 4/1 is interesting if the speed collapses in front of her.
The Verdict: Miss Mo Town — a best bet. The Ness/Silvera stat sheet at Delaware Park speaks for itself.
Race 3, 1:24pm — $25,000 Starter Optional Claiming, 7½ Furlongs (Turf)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Last Scip | Ismerio Villalobos | Suzanne Stettinius | 4/1 |
| 2 | Take Me To Church (IRE) | Cipriano Gil | Gregory Sacco | 6/1 |
| 3 | Street Rockin | Teshawn Hazelwood | Robert Werneth | 20/1 |
| 4 | J D Factor | Ruben Silvera | Jamie Ness | 6/1 |
| 5 | English Painter | Paul Luna | Nicole Dankanich | 20/1 |
| 6 | Chance | Angel Cruz | Michael Catalano Jr | 8/1 |
| 7 | Sam Stormy | Marvin Fernandez | Mario Lopez | 8/1 |
| 8 | Falfurrias | Jose Batista | Steve Klesaris | 3/1 |
| 9 | Cloud Music | Madeline Rowland | Michael Gorham | 2/1 |
A field of 17 was entered here, so expect scratches; the also-eligibles are excluded above.
The Favorites: Cloud Music is 2/1 for local mainstay Michael Gorham with rising apprentice Madeline Rowland aboard, ahead of Falfurrias at 3/1.
The Value: Take Me To Church, an Irish-bred turf specialist from the Sacco barn, makes each-way appeal at 6/1 over this extended trip.
The Verdict: Cloud Music, with the weather set to hold long enough for a fast lawn.
Race 4, 1:56pm — Dover Stakes, 2-Year-Olds, 6 Furlongs (Dirt), $75,000
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucky Siete | TBA | Gary Capuano | 5/1 |
| 2 | Sea Devil | Cipriano Gil | Eddie Owens Jr | 5/1 |
| 3 | Seven’s Nitro | Emanuel Rosario | Gary Capuano | 9/5 |
| 4 | Tatters | Julio Hernandez | Michael Matz | 5/2 |
| 5 | Snowhomish | Carlos Rojas | Jorge Delgado | 7/2 |
| 6 | Mi Corazoncito | Wesley Ho | Jose Gallegos | 12/1 |
The Favorites: Gary Capuano fires two bullets at the first leg of the juvenile stakes double, with Seven’s Nitro the 9/5 morning-line favorite and Lucky Siete the 5/1 second string.
The Value: Snowhomish at 7/2 for Jorge Delgado, whose barn has been dangerous with young horses all meet.
The Verdict: Tatters. Michael Matz does not run juveniles in stakes company without a reason, and 5/2 against a short-priced local favorite is fair value.
Race 5, 2:28pm — Allowance, Fillies & Mares, 1 Mile (Turf)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Racey Ruby | Angel Cruz | Michael Catalano Jr | 4/1 |
| 5 | Hola Gata | Julio Hernandez | Panagiotis Synnefias | 9/5 |
| 6 | Cozy Rosie | Vincent Cheminaud | Michael Matz | 5/1 |
| 7 | Weekend Wife | Angel Cruz | Timothy Keefe | 8/5 |
| 9 | Keepthedreamalive | Jose Batista | Todd Beattie | 10/1 |
| 10 | Violet’s Charm | Jose Batista | William Downing | 5/2 |
| 12 | Moon Cache | Raul Mena | Michael Gorham | 7/2 |
Twelve fillies and mares are entered; the seven main market players are shown above, plus five others at bigger prices.
The Favorites: Weekend Wife sets the standard at 8/5 for Maryland’s Tim Keefe, with Hola Gata close up at 9/5 in a race where the first four in the market are tightly bunched.
The Value: Moon Cache at 7/2 gives Gorham a second live turf chance on the card, and Cozy Rosie brings the Matz/Cheminaud combination at 5/1.
The Verdict: Weekend Wife in a wide-open heat — but keep stakes sensible here.
Race 6, 3:00pm — Blue Hen Stakes, 2-Year-Old Fillies, 6 Furlongs (Dirt), $75,000
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martiniwithatwist | Cipriano Gil | Gary Capuano | 6/1 |
| 2 | Down the Farm | Magglio Sanchez | Bobbi Anne Hawthorne | 15/1 |
| 3 | Olivia’s Legacy | Carol Cedeno | Anthony Pecoraro | 15/1 |
| 4 | Tiz Tapping | Vincent Cheminaud | Cathal Lynch | 8/1 |
| 5 | Whitten Way | Emanuel Rosario | Gary Capuano | 9/5 |
| 6 | Great Destiny | Jose Batista | Nesvil Bailon | 15/1 |
| 7 | Witchy Vibes | Frankie Pennington | John Servis | 5/2 |
| 8 | Almas Gone Gamblin | Ruben Silvera | Jamie Ness | 10/1 |
| 9 | Where Are You | TBA | Greg Compton | 8/1 |
The Favorites: It is Capuano and Rosario again with Whitten Way at 9/5, seeking to complete the stakes double an hour after the Dover.
The Value: Tiz Tapping at 8/1 for Cathal Lynch is the sneaky play underneath in exactas.
The Verdict: Witchy Vibes is the one to beat. The Epicenter filly won at first asking for John Servis — the man who campaigned Smarty Jones — and Frankie Pennington ships in for the mount. A best bet at 5/2.
Race 7, 3:32pm — Allowance Optional Claiming, 5 Furlongs (Turf)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon | Ricardo Chiappe | Fenneka Bentley | 6/1 |
| 2 | Doctor Jeff | Jose Batista | Kieron Magee | 3/2 |
| 3 | Normandy Hero | Ruben Silvera | Jamie Ness | 3/1 |
| 4 | Radical Right | Raul Mena | Michael Gorham | 8/1 |
| 6 | Kohoutek | Jorge Hernandez | Sarah White | 8/1 |
| 7 | Yahoo Omar | Julio Hernandez | Andrew Simoff | 4/1 |
| 8 | River Seine (IRE) | Sara Hess | Edward Maher | 4/1 |
| 9 | Take a Hint | Emanuel Rosario | Gary Capuano | 2/1 |
Ten are entered in this turf dash; the eight main chances are shown, plus two others at double-figure prices. Keep an eye on the sky — any 3pm thunderstorm hits right around this race.
The Favorites: Doctor Jeff is a warm order at 3/2 for sprint specialist Kieron Magee, with Take a Hint at 2/1 giving Capuano yet another live favorite and Ness’s Normandy Hero at 3/1.
The Value: River Seine at 4/1 — Irish-breds and five-furlong turf dashes tend to go together.
The Verdict: Doctor Jeff. Short, but Magee’s sprinters are ruthlessly well placed, and this is the banker of the card.
Race 8, 4:04pm — $6,250 Claiming, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds (ML) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prom Knight | Eddie Dominguez | Cesar Nambo | 5/1 |
| 2 | This Run’s for You | Cipriano Gil | Josue Arce | 4/1 |
| 4 | Mogalu | Marvin Fernandez | Jose S. Rodriguez | 20/1 |
| 6 | Just for the Money | Matilda Burnham | Gina Perri | 3/1 |
| 7 | Old Town Road | Ronaldo Rodriguez | Thomas Waltke Jr | 8/1 |
| 8 | Float On | Jose Batista | Josue Arce | 5/1 |
| 10 | Cojelo Pa Ti | Joshua Radosevich | Michael Pino | 5/1 |
Ten go to post in the finale; the seven main players are shown, plus three outsiders at 15/1 and bigger.
The Favorites: Just for the Money is the 3/1 morning-line choice, with Josue Arce double-handed through This Run’s for You (4/1) and Float On (5/1).
The Value: Cojelo Pa Ti at 5/1 for veteran Michael Pino, a stable that wins its share of these late-card claimers.
The Verdict: Just for the Money to send everyone home happy. If you fancy a later finish still, our Gulfstream Park picks cover the Florida evening action.
Accumulator
Our four-leg parlay from today’s Delaware Park picks: Miss Mo Town (2/1, 12:52pm), Weekend Wife (8/5, 2:28pm), Witchy Vibes (5/2, 3:00pm) and Doctor Jeff (3/2, 3:32pm) — a combined price in the region of 67/1 at the morning line.
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