The Gr 2 Dell Penn Eruption

The Gr2 Dell Penn Eruption

Grade: 2
Purse: $1,000,000
Track: Delaware
Age: 2 Yrs Old Only
Sex: Open
Surface: Dirt; Rated Fast
Distance: One Mile

Welcome all to Delaware Racetrack where the track is buzzing with an all-star day and cast. The bird is in the oven and Santa is on his way, but first some major racing to take place. We have some stars here that are looking to crack the divisional ranking. We have some up and comers who may have not been quite ready for BB day, but are here to serve notice to many that they will be heard from again come that glorious Saturday in May. At stake today is a winner’s share of $600,000. Starting from the rail out:

1) Decadently- A 2 yr old son A.P Indy, Decadently draws the rail and gets the public support as he is listed as one of the 3 co-favs in the race. He gets that distinction from his last effort, where the son of D ranked mare The General, closed from 11th place to finish 2nd by a closing head in the Gr3 Nashua Special. His 3 races prior were seemingly all too easy as he strolled through his maiden ranks and followed it with victories in an allow nw2l and 3l. His speed numbers have improved every start and he served major notice with his last outing which he earned a 99 for the effort. There’s much to like from this guy here today. Distance suits him perfectly, has a bit of pace to run at and answered the class call last time out. Should serve notice today that he will be around this division for awhile for his trainer Sicko. Starts his journey here today for May if is as good as he may suggest he might be.

2) Scan The Map- A 2 yr old colt by Orientate, Scan The Map is an improving type 2 yr old. He is one of those 2 yr olds that takes 5 tries to break his maiden and seems like the bridesmaid is here again. Scan The Map did in fact take 5 times to break his maiden, but then went on to win an All nw2l, , then fired a 95 to take the Upper Juvenile Stakes by a widening 2 lengths. Scan has a few things in his favor today. He is a very consistent type horse. He seems to fire every time out. The distance is well suited for him and he seems now with 7 races under his belt, to understand the game better. His backlines of Giant’s Causeway and Kingmambo give him the possible stamina that he needs and he can definitely follow up his last with another 95-98 or so which puts him in the ballpark. He must not bounce today, and use his consistency and his improving style all here today. Definite wiseguy threat for Jumpmoose today. 9-1 and Staples aboard.

3)Forever Changed- A son of Flower Alley, Forever Changed is a seasoned horse for this type race. He has seen the likes of this kind before. In June and July, Forever Changed was the 2nd place finisher in the Gr2 High Roller’s Juvy and the Gr3 Manor Of Bashford. He is the #13 ranked sprinter in the division. Today he takes a minor step, having to go 8f for the very first time. Today’s game plan is simple for him. He has natural speed from the gate and the back class to help him. He must relax a bit early and use his speed more efficiently, because there will be quite a few charging hard at him late. If he can settle early and save some for that last furlong, he could go wire to wire on the field. Will give Spinround some definite answers going forward today, but is in with a chance if he can prove the 8f against this company isn’t too much. If not today, will be heard from again in the sprinting division next year. 10-1 and Small in the irons.

4) Oyster Pub- Lenny brings Oyster Pub here today, a son of $1.6 million dolla B ranked he/she horse Daytona Beach. He is sired by Bernardini. Oyster Pub broke his maiden in his 2nd start and then came 2nd in an allowance 2l race. He was then entered in the Gr3 Charcoal’s Breeders Cup where he faced 11 others. In that off going race, Oyster Pub sat in 4th and battled through the stretch where he just couldn’t get by the winner. His runner-up finish earned him a 91 speed number. He then ran in a $75,000 overnight stakes against 11 others. He again battled strongly, this time on the lead, but just couldn’t hold on again. Has quite a few things to like today. He has run 8 1/2 f twice, and he cuts back today to 8f, which should help him. He has run 3 speed numbers in the 90’s, well rested and looks to be one ready to fire a big number. Impeccable blood lines and only need to improve 4-5 points today to get the win. Should be in top 3 down the backside, and will make charge at the front with 2f to go. Definite win and board threat here today. 6-1 and gets K Ledwith.

5) Dissected- A scratch bred son of Street Cry, Dissected is a lightly raced juvenile with only 3 career starts. He broke his maiden first time out and then rolled to an easy allow nw2l victory. In his last start, he faced a full 13 horse open allowance race, where he ran a game 2nd place and earned a very credible 94 for the effort. I think Dissected got much out of that race and looks ready for a big effort today. He got a taste of the leather last time out and it will serve him well today. He has been 8f for all 3 races of his career already and I look for him to sit 3-5th down the backside early. He must answer the class bell today, but if he’s ready, he can win this race easily. Checkmate has brought him along nicely and now asked the impeccably bred 2 yr old to start his hopeful journey to May by winning here today. A big threat today if can continue his upswing. 5-1 co-fav and GD Mate in the saddle.

6) Da Ali G Show- J Barba brings a beautifully bred son of Distorted Humor to the races today. D Ali G Show has only raced 3 times and all at Utah. In his maiden, Da Ali G came in 3rd place with a 72 speed. He would return one moth later and win his Maiden in a 3 length romp, earning an 80 for the victory. He would return 9 weeks later and win an Allow1x event with an 86 speed and 2 length victory. Da Ali G Show has many things to like here today. He has won his 2 allowance races by a combined 5 lengths and has won both of them at or over 8f. He is a tactical off the pace type horse who will sit 3rd-5th down the backside and do his running with 2f to go. His only question here today will be his class test. He meets some graded raced horses in here today, but he is a very playable 13-1 today. He will give Jbarb some much needed answering as to where his conditioning is right now. Nicely bred, likes the distance and think the public’s 13-1 is a bit to high for him today. Deserves the chance to show what he may have. Must up his speed numbers by about 10 points today, but think he may be capable of doing just that. Live long shot with Evans in the stirrups today.

7) You Look Great- The Fabman brings a 3 start Juvenile to the races named You Look Great. In his August debut in a 7 horse MSW, You Look Great didn’t look all that great but got the job done posting a nice 2 ½ length win with a 77 speed number (more likely a reflection of the ease of victory). In his next start, You Look Great had one of those races that delightfully surprises trainers. In his allowance 2yr follow up race, he lost by a hard charging ¼ of a length, but his speed number went up 13 points to a 90. His next start was an Allow nw2l race where he closed strongly again and won going away by 2 ¾ lengths. He earned an 86 for that effort, but again it probably could have been higher if he needed it to be. Today, You Look great has many positives. He is one of the main dead closer types and he seems like he will fire big late every time. There is a couple sprint type horses in here that will give him his needed pace to run at late. He like a few others in here will get their main first class test, but this guy seems to be on the improve and is ready to tackle graded company. Understand the publics 11-1, but don’t agree with it at all. If this guy can improve just a bit today, he will be roaring down the lane late and win going away. I don’t think today will outclass him by any means and his running style alone makes him a threat with the pace. If wins today, the skies the limit for this guy. Fabre in the saddle today for Fab.

8) Splitting Atoms- The Taz Man brings Splitting Atoms here today. A 2 yr old colt by Ivory Touch, Splitting Atoms last ran in the Pismo Beach Memorial where he finished 2nd by 2 ¼ lengths. His last 2 speed numbers of 87’s give this guy the right to be here today and he should like the 8f more than many in here. He will also get his first graded class test here today, but has some powerful back lines of A.P Indy and Danzig to help support that. His is a steadily improving horse and I look for him to be towards the rear down the backside. He has hit the board in 5 of his 6 career starts and today he just needs to improve off his last 2 efforts. His running style will help him here today, and will need a 6-8 point increase to get the picture taken. If can overcome the small class test and can time his move off the frontrunners, he will come charging late for Taz. 11-1 and Swann in the irons today.

9) Time Is Tight- The Supers Stables brings a 2 yr old son of Tapit to the races today. The class tested vet of this group is looking to back up his Gr3 race earlier in the year. He has run in 4 graded races this year and has a win and a 3rd place in them. His last race in the Pismo Beach Memorial at 7 ½ furlongs was a nice effort. Facing 6 others, Time Is Tight sad toward the rear and made a nice middle move with 3f to go. Through the stretch he took command and drew away by 2 ¼ lengths. Time Is Tight is the toughest horse in this race to figure out. He is well seasoned with 7 career races, has run at 5 different distances and has had some convinving wins. He has also thrown in a couple clunkers though. If his recent form trend is any what of an indication, it may be the toss out race. But he has experience, class and is coming of a nice win with a 91 speed number. Should get a nice pace to run at today, and the big guy just needs to put it all together for one race. 10-1 and Ross in the irons.

10) Georgie The Mooch- Another lightly raced 2 yr old colt, Georgie The Mooch comes into today’s race having run 2 huge graded races off his maiden victory. In August Georgie steamrolled the competition with a resounding 4 ¼ length victory where he beat 13 others. He earned a very nice 87 for that effort. His trainer, Flagdown was so impressed with what he saw, that he had no reservations with sending the son of Distorted Humor into a Gr2. In thaht Gr2 event, Georgie The Mooch would again lineup against 13 others. He would trail the field early, at which point I’m sure Flag was cursing himself for throwing him to the wolves. But with about 3f to go in the 7f event, Georgie would start to roll and pick off horses one by one. He would come into the lane would a full head of steam and just ran out of real estate and finished a great 2nd start 2nd. Place. He would receive a 92 for that game effort and Flag would now send him into the Gr2 The Ransom Stakes, this time at 9f. Going off at 2nd choice in the race, Georgie The Mooch would again trail the field early. He would copy his prior race and start to pick them up one at a time. He would make up 4 lengths in the stretch but got a 3rd place finish. He regressed a bit in his speed number, but still earned a nice 88 for the race. Today, Georgie has many, many things to like. Gets a decent pace up front, has run the distance already and has answered the class call after only 3 career start. If he can make his run a tiny bit earlier today, not regress, he can come charging late to win. Severe threat today and is the co-fav at 5-1.
11) Former Fortunes- Chekcmate brings his 2nd entry here today with Former Fortunes. A son of Elvstroem, Former Fortunes comes into today’s race with a 4th place finish in the Aussie Stakes (Oyster Pub 2nd in race). After winning his maiden and following allowance race, Former Fortunes was 3rd in an open allowance race at 8f and then 4th in the prior stakes. Former Fortunes is one of only 2 or 3 in here that have run back to back 90+ races. He has a nice tactical off the front style and has been the distance 4 times in his 5 start career. Today may set up well for Former Fortunes. He will probably sit right off the flank of the 3 frontrunners and look to make his move when they shows signs of cracking. He ran against a very nice stakes field last out, and if can improve off that effort, he may be a 16.00 winner. Gets a good birds eye view of race in front, and if he can time his move and improve just a bit today, Former Fortunes has a big chance today. 7-1 and Crow in the saddle.

Smoke’s Analysis: A very nice race here today in which we should definitely have a star or 2 come out of. There are some lightly raced, but already threatening types in here who will look to start their journey to the Bluegrass with a win here today. Many trainers will revamp the schedules based on a good showing here today. From a pace perspective, there’s a few fast ones in here. There are 2 dead closers who will make an impact late and a tactical stalker who will be the first to make his move if the top 2 frontrunners do in fact crack. Here’s my stab at 4..

1) Deacdently- Loved his last race and will be sitting near the rear but should get the jump on another closer type. Served a big warning shot last race out and simply just needs to duplicate the effort here today to win. Top threat today
2) Scan The Map- Like his running style today. Should be not to far off and make his move when he needs to. Must continue improve off last race, but if he can, a top threat to top choice.
3) Georgie The Mooch- A top threat here today, just slightly worried he may need a tad more room. Has the class already after only 3 races and the perfect running style and would surprise at all for the win if he can start his motor just a tiny bit earlier. Top threat to top 2.
4) The Oyster Pub- 3 races in the 90’s and consistent type horse. Should get a good view down the backside and if can time his move off the front and faster than the closers, has a big chance here today.

Well that’s it gang. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday…See ya next year!!!