Half Dozen Collide in Delaware’s Darshaan Again

Juveniles take the stage again this weekend – this time, a half dozen fillies, several conditioned by DelPenn trainers, collide in the Darshaan Again Stakes, at 6 ½ furlongs on the dirt. The race is named after a pretty nice filly (Darshaan x Wild Again) who won 13 of 47 starts, and a little more than $110k along the way, mostly sprinting in allowances. While she earned no black type, Darshaan Again is out of the three-time stakes winner North Abdul. As a broodmare, she’s been a disappointment, although her first foal, a filly by Peintre Celebre, seems to be making the transition from starter allowances to allowances. Her other foal, a juvenile by Unbridled’s Song, has yet to break his maiden in seven starts, although he has hit the board on three occasions.

Anyway, several in this field are already more accomplished, and ultimately may achieve a lot more before their own retirements – hopefully, a long ways away. Darkfall’s Peace Blossom makes her stakes debut here after dazzling fans in her first two starts. The Speightstown filly posted a monster 93 SF while winning a 7 furlong allowance last time out. Never been headed, she gets a gut check here, and a possible speed duel, but could be any kind based on these last two. What you won’t get is price, as she is 7/5. The co-second favorites have already proven themselves in stakes competition, each having won at that level. On the rail is super11’s Conga Line. The daughter of sim freshman sire Congaree has already won two stakes in a short five race career. She seems to be most effective sprinting, which Conga will get another dose of on Saturday. Her speed figures haven’t been as overwhelming as Peace Blossom’s, but she still has broken the 80 SF mark in her last two starts, and gets leading rider Herbert Ross. On the outside is jakematt1’s Barb’s Dehere. Never worse than third in seven starts, the big bay came home first in the Prospector Jessie Stakes down in North Florida last time out (6 furlongs, 83 SF). She could benefit if the other two hook up in an early speed duel, and is steadily improving.

Theavenger sends out a pretty nice juvenile miss in Grindstone Avenger. The daughter of the Derby hero cuts back in distance after tiring to fourth in the Super1 special last time out (1 mile, 81 SF). The blaze-faced filly had set the pace in that race, and prior to that effort, had won a one mile race in Rhode Island (83 SF). She’s also won sprinting, and will most likely be just behind the early leaders – possibly in the speed duel, but that will depend on how smart a ride she gets from Z. Wylde – and then attempt to get a jump on the leaders. Rounding out the field are loves3’s Dandabeel and cashstables’ Silver Medallion T. Dandabeel, a daughter of Zabeel, has struggled since finishing third in the Grade 3 Arizona Shoot-out. Unplaced in six stakes since then, this race looks no easier. What is puzzling is she alternates races where she barely runs, with races where she closes late. A drop to allowance level might provide a much needed boost for this promising, but off-form, filly. Silver Medallion T, like Grindstone Avenger, is cutting back in distance after tiring in a route last time out. The flashy daughter of Silver Deputy has yet to crack the 80 SF, but is still improving, and has yet to finish worse than third. That said, this is a pretty tough group in which to make your stakes debut. Good luck to all!