Del Web Handicap for Cryin Out Loud
We have a field of six runners in this year’s Del Web Handicap. The race will be contested over a mile and three eighths on a firm turf course. This will be the third running of the grade II Del Web Handicap. In previous runnings the fields have been small but competitive. The Del Web Stakes record time is 2:15 flat and that earned a 110 speed figure for Tour Escort in the inaugural running. I think the runner from this group that emerges victorious has a chance at the stakes record. Let’s take a closer look at the field.
Breaking from post one will be Footlights a four year old filly by Curlin racing for the Qwikvett stables. She is out of an A.P. Indy mare named Drive Me To Drink. Drive Me To Drink was a solid allowance runner on dirt but Footlights has shown an affinity for the turf. She has a solid record of four wins two places and a show from thirteen turf starts. In March and April of this year she was on a real tear winning two allowance races and just missing against the boys in the Grade 3 Chaucer Gold Cup. She has stayed in graded company over the summer however her form has tailed off a bit. She stretches out a bit from her last races so could be forwardly placed here depending on the speed. She needs to repeat her performance in the Grade 3 Chaucer to have a shot here but she does have the talent to win this race.
Cows With Guns breaks from post two as the longest shot in the field at six to one. This four year old grey colt by Tapit is out of a he mare by Mr. Greeley named Nitro Mega Prayer running in the silks of the Shaghar stables. Nitro Mega Prayer was a solid dirt runner in starter allowances. Cows With Guns has just twelve lifetime starts with two wins and six places. He has been running long on the turf this year and has placed in four listed stakes. He comes from well off the pace and while I like that he is cutting back in distance he seems a little over classed in this race. Still with a six horse field anything can happen, he is young and has every reason to improve and surprise this field.
The two to one favorite breaks from post 3. Cryin Out Loud is a four year old colt by Street Cry racing for the Skunkbarn stables. He is a scratch bed out of a Giant’s Causeway mare. Crying Out Loud has a wonderful record winning seven of his eleven lifetime starts with two places and a show. So this horse has only finished off the board once and that was in his debut. Since then he climbed through the allowance ranks, won a listed stakes and also picked two graded wins. He won the grade 1 Tattersalls Gold at a mile and three sixteenths three starts back in stalking fashion. He is a middle closer type and has earned four 110+ speed figures in his young career. He is a deserving favorite and will be tough to hold off in the stretch.
Can I Get Twelve is a four year old Dynaformer colt representing the Smokeglack stables. He will break from post four and is a scratch bred from a Sky Classic mare. He has fifteen lifetime starts and has seven wins, two places and two shows in those starts earning just over half a million in purses. He has a pair of graded wins and is coming into this race off of a grade two win in the mile and three quarters Kergorlay. This race matches the shortest distance he has ever raced. Can I Get Twelve is a deep closer routinely finding himself fourteen to sixteen lengths off the early pace. There is not a lot of pace in this race so he could be closer to the pace but he will have his work cut out for him closing in this race.
Post five is the second entry from the Qwikvett stables. The Beast Enters is a five year old horse out of a he mare named Enter the Beast by Diesis. Enter the Beast was a grade one winner at two miles on dirt. The Beast Enters is a savy thirty eight race veteran. He has class being a former grade one winner at a mile and a half and as a juvenile he just missed in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvy Turf in 2008. This is the speed of the field however he is not in good form. He has dropped anchor in three straight races finishing well behind the winner. He did show a bit of life last time out and with no pace pressure he could slow this pace down enough and rise to the occasion. Always respect the classy veteran in a field.
Fetti stables sends Lou Fusz Lazer from post six. Lou Fusz Lazer is a four year old colt by Dansili. He is a scratch bred out of a Kris S mare. He has raced just sixteen times so far with five wins, six places and three shows. Lou Fusz has yet to win a stakes race but is a graded placed runner. He seems to still be improving. He has now worked his way through his allowance conditions and seems in top form. Last time out he ran a career best 113 speed figure over a yielding turf course. His running style is interesting. Early in his career he was a pace setter and lately he has been coming from off the pace. He should be close to the pace and that gives him first run on a pace setter that has not been strong of late. I think at the six furlong pole he could be taking command of the race and would be no surprise to hang on for the win given what appears to be a slow pace scenario.
It is always tough to handicap these type races but if pressed to pick the top three I think the favorite Cryin Out Loud here is just too classy and somehow gets the job done. Lou Fusz Lazer seems to be the runner set up for the best trip and I think that earns him second place. The rest for me is really a crap shoot but I think the mare Footlights makes a late bid picking up the show over the gritty The Beast Enters. Good luck to all the connections.