A Clash of Milers – The Delaware Mile
The rich Delaware Mile, now in its tenth edition, has been won by such stellar milers as Eruption, High Otto, the filly Otto History, Wireless Eavesdrop and Western Groom. The stakes record of 1:32 4/5 was set by Tempest. The $3 million purse has attracted a robust field of sixteen, including the winners of this year’s Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile-G1, Cosmopolitan Mile-G1, and last year’s winner of this race. Only the winner of the Sterile Mile-G1 is missing.
There are plenty of betting opportunities this year, as favoritism comes at a fairly high 6/1. That honor belongs to O’Raghallaigh II, a four year old son of Ghostzapper. Trained by Itch, the husky brown colt has been in tremendous form for quite some time. He won the Salvatore Mile-G3 with a 117 SF, was third in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile-G1 with a 113 SF, and last out, had to settle for a tough second in the Sterile Mile-G1, again with a 117 SF. He loves to go out to the lead and play catch me if you can, and with his kind of speed, that is tough to do. Lots to like about this guy.
Last year’s champion, Motion Dismissed is back with wtas02. The pair hope to become the first two-time winner of this race. Since last year’s victory, the son of Lawyer Ron won the prestigious Cosmopolitan Mile-G1 with a 11 SF. Most recently, he was a closing fifth in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile-G1 (112 SF). As usual, he’ll be rolling for the back of the pack, and if the favorite gets pressed early, watch for Motion Dismissed to pick up the pieces.
Also at 7/1 is Honorary Citizen, who gets stuck with the outside post position. The odds are somewhat surprising, as he has yet to win a graded stakes, but there’s no deny his talent. The aak trainee was fifth in the Sterile Mile-G1, and fourth in the It’s All Your Fault S-G3, and has posted speed figures of 110 or better in each of his last four starts. Knocking on the door, can definitely break through, but I’d want a slightly higher price, especially since he’ll be dueling with the favorite early on.
Dissected fell just 3/4 of a length short in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile-G1 (114 SF) and had to settle for third in the Sterile Mile-G1. For a three year old tackling elders, that is impressive. Checkmate1 hopes that the Street Cry colt can return to the winner’s circle here. He has the tactical speed, and should be poised to make a move at the right time under the guidance of leading rider Herbert Ross. Solid chance for this one.
Munnin’s Overdoze is another sophomore in the field, and the grey ghost is the reigning hero of the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile-G1 (115 SF). The son of Unbridled’s Song is a bit inconsistent at times, but when he is good, he is very very good. Overdoze found the 9 panels of the Japan Dirt Cup-G1 a bit far last time out, fading in the final 1/16th to fifth, but a return to the Dirt Mile form would make him tough to beat. He’ll be another one going for the lead early.
Several horses are next in the betting at 11/1. Of the group, grrm2’s Dwarf may be the most intriguing. After racing successfully on turf for most of this year, the Dynaformer switched back to dirt two starts ago and has posted some eyecatching numbers. First, the diminuitive bay missed by a nose in a 10 furlong stakes with a 108 SF, and last out won the Lewis & Clark S-G2 with a 114 SF. The real question is whether the colt can duplicate that form while going shorter. He tends to lag in the early going, so O’Hara will have to get Dwarf in gear sooner than normal. Jersey Act was fourth in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile-G1, flying from last in the last quarter mile, and making up over 13 lengths late. Brasco debuted his charge on the turf last time out, and it will be interesting to see how the turf back to dirt angle plays out. The three year old looked like he might be a classic distance horse earlier in the year, but now seems like he’s a very good miler/short router with an explosive kick. Bigarnie’s Atlantic Bolt, like Dwarf, is cutting back in distance. The son of Stormy Atlantic has been racing primarily at 9 and 10 furlongs this year, winning the Glenn H-G1 at the start of the year. He was seventh in this race two years ago, and while the chrome laden chestnut is a stakes winner at this distance, ultimately, I think he’s a stronger router, and will need a bit of luck to catch the other going short. Avowofdestruction has been steadily improving for billzpaid2, scoring three of his five career wins in his last six starts. The chocolate hued son of Broken Vow was third in the Middle Ground Mile-G2 with a 115 SF, a figure that puts him squarely in contention, and more recently was third in the GRSimster’s Championships. Another stalker type, he could surprise at a price.
A pair of colts are next at 14.1. Sportnwoods’ Captain Charisma attempts to make amends after finishing last in each of his last two starts. The Danehill Dancer colt was absolutely on fire earlier this year, and is probably one of the best 1 1/16 milers in training, scoring victories in the Star Athlete-G2, San Dimas-G2 and Fus Gonner-G3. But, something went dreadfully wrong in the Middle Ground Mile-G2, and he fared no better in the Breeders’ Bowl. If he returns to form, the leggy bay could be a threat at a price, but that’s a big if. Xtra Tiz is a horse nearing the top of his game. The son of Tiznow raced in a claimer back in March, and slowly found his way under psyduck131. After a pair of allowance scores at this distance, including a 110 SF effort, he most recently won The Fall S-G3 with a 116 SF. Getting good at the right time, an upset is entirely possible.
Capital Hideaway is the other son of Dynaformer in the field. The ticketman trainee has done his best running as a closer with a late kick, but he has broken his maiden at a mile. The bigger concern is that he seems to have gone off form in his last two starts, with his speed figures declining into the low 90s. The lone filly in the field is super19’s Super Daring. When the filly is good, she is very, very good – witness her victory in the Leopard S-G3, or more recently in an allowance romp (115 SF). However, the filly, who is the second offspring of Tiznow in the field, is somewhat inconsistent and gets a real class test here. Mercuri’s Splitting Atoms is another sophomore getting a class test. After winning a pair of one mile allowance impressively (109 SF, 108 SF), the dark chestnut was a game fourth in a listed stakes, but tired to sixth in the Who Did It and Run-G3. The colt is still looking for his first stakes victory, but has shown flashes of brilliance. Spinning Empire is another colt trying to take a step up in class. The son of Empire Maker tired to second in an allowance last out, but it was his time that was impressive (111 SF). Koalaking has started this colt just three times at a mile, where he has won once and finished second the other two times. Still looking for his first stakes victory.
The very lightly raced Amusing Anymore has started just three times at a mile and has started some serious talk on the backside. The royally bred son of A.P. Indy has won twice at this distance, including a listed stakes victory last time out with a 115 SF. The raynham homebred narrowly lost the Who Did It and Run-G3 in his prior start (107 SF). Runs just off the pace, a lot to like, especially at odds of 21/1. The longshot special of the race.
Good luck to all of the connections!