It's here!

Delware Festival of Racing is finally here. 6 stakes races (four graded, two each day), over the course of two days. And history can be made on Sunday.

Here are the races

First on Saturday:

Race 5 - 3:03 PM STAKES R. R. M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial S. Purse $100,000. For Three Year Olds And Upward. Nomination fee of $50, $450 to enter and $600 to start. Supplemental nominations of $1,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $100,000 Guaranteed, of which $60,000 to the winner, $20,000 to second, $11,000 to third, $6,000 to fourth and $3,000 to fifth. Weight: Three year olds: 118 Lbs. Older: 123 Lbs. Non-winners of $45,000 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs. $30,000 at a mile or over in 2009, 4 Lbs. $22,000 at a mile or over since May 18, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Field limited to 12 starters. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings in 2008 - 2009. Trophy to the winning owner.
One And One Sixteenth Miles.
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 P V Lightening (MD) 5/G LA T Maragh 117 G Capuano
2 Acting Zippy (FL) 4/G L J Shepherd 117 W D Bennett
3 Good and Lucky (FL) 6/G LA* D Cohen 123 J Carroll
4 Eddie C. (KY) 7/G LA R A Dominguez 117 C W Grove
5 Dinner in Odem (FL) 5/G L T J Thompson 121 P Wasiluk, Jr.
6 Researcher (VA) 5/G LA K Carmouche 123 J C Runco
7 Ready Set (KY) 4/C LA J Lezcano 117 M R Matz
8 Kurbat (CHI) 5/G LA* J Rose 121 H G Motion

This is really a 2 horse race, between graded stakes winners Researcher and Ready Set. I'll take Researcher, but would love to see Ready Set win. P V Lightning has a stakes win over the track and is my longshot pick.

Race 9 - 4:51 PM STAKES Robert G. Dick Memorial H. (Grade III) Purse $200,000. (Includes $50,000 – BC - Breeders' Cup). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. By subscription of $200 each which shall accompany the nomination; $1,350 to enter and $1,600 to start. Supplemental nominations of $2,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $200,000 Guaranteed (*includes $50,000 from Breeders' Cup fund for cup nominees only). The host association's money to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Breeders' Cup monies not awarded reverts backto the fund. Weight: Three year olds 118 Lbs. Older 123 Lbs. Non-Winners of $90,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs. $60,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009, 4 Lbs. $45,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009, 6 Lbs. (Maiden,, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Starters to pass the entry box by the usual time of closing. Preference to Breeders' Cup nominees only of equal racing quality or horses which have accumulated the highest total earnings on the turf in 2008 - 2009. The winner to receive a trophy from Breeders' Cup Limited. (If deemed inadvisable by management not to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile and One Quarter). One And Three Eighth Miles. (Turf)
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Avie's Tale (KY) 4/F LA B J Hernandez, Jr. 117 T E Salzman
2 Jaunty Gale (FL) 5/M L T J Thompson 117 P Wasiluk, Jr.
3 Trensa (KY) 5/M LA A R Napravnik 117 M R Matz
4 Precious Princess (KY) 5/M LA* J Shepherd 117 V Oliver
5 Caprice (GER) 6/M LA* J Rose 117 H G Motion
6 Dyna's Lassie (KY) 5/M LA* D Cohen 117 P D Fout
7 Winter View (KY) 5/M L G Saez 123 J E Sheppard
8 Astrologie (FR) 4/F LA* R A Dominguez 117 C Clement
9 Dress Rehearsal (IRE) 4/F LA R Migliore 123 W I Mott

Winter View should win this easily, and might even challenge her stablemate Forever Together later this year.

7th (3:57)
Delaware Oaks (G2) 1 1/16 Miles Fillies 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse: $250,000
Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Sweet Golden Carol Saez G 116 LA
2 Bon Jovi Girl Caraballo J C 120 LA
3 Livin Lovin Dominguez R A 116 LA
4 Careless Jewel Landry R C 116 LA
5 Malibu Prayer Decarlo C P 116 LA
6 Missunitednations Carmouche K 116 L
7 Payton d'Oro Thompson T J 122 LA

Bon Jovi Girl and Payton d'Oro have been a thorn in each other's side the past two races. However, it could be a shipper from New York who suprises everyone. The reason why surprises, is she is coming off a 19 1/2 length loss. However, she had an excuse in her previous race, and that was she was expected to lose. It was the Mother Goose, and well the horse who won is going to go 2 for 2 against the boys in 3 weeks. Malibu Prayer had set very quick fractions, that where just the perfect amount for Rachel Alexandra to run into. Delaware is a bit of a quirky track where if you are on the lead, it's very hard to give up. So it's a semi speed bias track, because horses can come flying out of the clouds. But you should be on or near the lead at the top of the stretch in order to be able to win it. That is why I'm going with Malibu Prayer to win, Bon Jovi Girl for second and in a suprise Mssuntiednations for third.

For Sunday:

Race 6 - 3:38 PM STAKES Light Hearted S. Purse $75,000. For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. No Nomination fee; $350 to enter and $500 to start. Supplemental nominations of $1,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $75,000 Guaranteed, of which $45,000 to the winner, $15,000 to second, $8,250 to third, $4,500 to fourth and $2,250 to fifth. Weight: Three year olds, 118 Lbs.: Older 123 Lbs. Non-Winners of $45,000 on the turf since June 19, allowed 2 Lbs. $35,000 on the turf since then 4 Lbs. $22,000 on the turf since May 19, 6 Lbs.(Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances.) Field will be limited to 12 Starters. Starters to pass the entry box by the usual time of closing. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings in 2008 - 2009. Trophy to the winning owner. Seven And One Half Furlongs. (Turf)
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Sugar Baby Love (GER) 5/M LA* D Cohen 117 R E Nicks
2 War Eagle Lady (KY) 4/F LA J R Leparoux 117 J E Baker
3 Julia Tuttle (FL) 4/F LA* A R Napravnik 117 A F Allen, III
4 Kitty Cat Express (FL) 4/F L J S Vail 117 B Silva
5 Precious Princess (KY) 5/M LA* J Shepherd 117 V Oliver
6 D Day (MD) 4/F LA I J Rosendo 117 S F Cronk
7 Warrior Maid (LA) 3/F LA G Saez 112 J L Jones
8 Miss Challenge (KY) 4/F LA R A Dominguez 117 G Weaver
9 Twiceasbeautiful (FL) 5/M L S Russell 119 M S Sharp
10 Drop a Line (KY) 5/M LA* J Rose 117 H G Motion
11 Come Fly Away (MD) 5/M LA* K Carmouche 117 M Shuman
12 Wilderness Trace (KY) 5/M LA J Rocco, Jr. 119 J R Fisher
Also Eligibles:
13 Remoulade (KY) 5/M LA* A Garcia 119 M R Matz
14 Beau's Trip (MD) 7/M LA C L Potts 117 R Jenkins

A nice big field for sprinting on the turf. You don't see many turf sprints stakes races for fillies in the US, so this is exciting. Unfortnally I've only heard of Warrior Maid, so she's my pick. And would have been my pick as well, she's coming off two third place finishes behind Bon Jovi Girl and Four Gifts (both who iroinclly faced Rachel earlier this year).

Race 8 - 4:36 PM STAKES Barbaro S. (Grade III) Purse $150,000. For Three Year Olds. By subscription of $100 each which shall accompany the nomination; $700 to enter and $900 to start. Supplemental nominations of $2,000 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all other fees. $150,000 Guaranteed, of which $90,000 to the winner, $30,000 to second, $16,500 to third, $9,000 to fourth and $4,500 to fifth. Weight 122 Lbs. Non-Winners of $55,000 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs.; $35,000 twice at a mile or over in 2009, 4 Lbs.; one such race, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Field limited to 12 starters. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings. Trophy to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.
One And One Sixteenth Miles.
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Code of Honour (FL) 3/G LA* D R Shepherd 116 W D Bennett
2 Denver (KY) 3/C LA J Rose 116 T A Pletcher
3 It Happened Again (KY) 3/C LA G Saez 116 J L Jones
4 Sumo (KY) 3/C LA* J R Leparoux 116 H G Motion
5 Doc's Friend (KY) 3/C LA J Shepherd 116 J L Jones
6 Sudden Shift (KY) 3/G LA O Vargas 118 A Kondor
7 In the Juice (MD) 3/G LA A R Napravnik 116 J J Robb
8 Slew of Smoke (FL) 3/C LA C L Potts 116 M E Gorham
9 Our Edge (FL) 3/C LA* A Garcia 118 N P Zito
10 Pitched Perfectly (KY) 3/C LA* D Cohen 116 B Tagg
11 Bunker Hill (FL) 3/C LA K Carmouche 116 D S Ryan
12 Dumar (KY) 3/C LA R A Dominguez 116 S M Asmussen

This is the final prep for Haskell horses. Although last year's winner Magical Forest finished last in the Haskell, the 3rd place finisher Ready Set won the West Virgina Derby. Because Barbaro was owned by Lael Stable (Roy and Gretchen Jackson), and well they have a horse in the race who happens to be trained by a Derby winning trainer (however it's not Michael Matz). I've gotta go with Pitched Perfectly who ships in from Belmont. The three locals have a chance, but I think Barclay Tagg has this guy in the right spot. And if he wins, maybe a trip to the Haskell where he has had at least one starter before.

last, but not least the Delaware Handicap!

$1,000,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II, 5: 35 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Weight, Odds
1. Temple Street, Brad Cox, Jon Court, 111, 10-1
2. Morena, Claudio, Michael Matz, A.R. Napravnik, 116, 8-1
3. Icon Project, Martin Wolfson, Jose Valdivia, 115, 6-1
4. Acoma, David Carroll, Julian Leparoux, 119, 5/2
5. Unbridled Belle, Todd Pletcher, Richard Migliore, 119, 2-1
6. Livin Lovin, Steve Klesaris, Ramon Dominguez, 112, 10-1
7. Swift Temper, Dale Romans, Alan Garcia, 117, 4-1

I have a feeling that Livin Lovin will be going to the Oaks instead, but I could also be wrong. Temple Street is coming in from Churchill, and horses who do well there often do well here. Morena was second last time out in the Obeah and is one of 2 horses who has already won at this distance. Icon Project could be the horse with the best chance to upset the race. Acoma almost skipped this race for the Beverly D. The question is can Unbridled Belle become the first 2 time winner of the DelCap since Susan's Girl? Her trainer Todd Pletcher will be going for his fourth win in the race as well to tie the record (his other three are Belle (07, she was 3rd last year, Fleet Indian, 06 when she won Champion Older Female and Irving's Baby in 01). Livin Lovin is a 3yo, just not the 3yo everyone thought would be coming, and is cross entered into Sat. Oaks. And last, but least Swift Temper has last year's Belmont winning jockey combined with the trainer of Kitten's Joy and well that's about it.

I gotta with Unbridled Belle on this, she loves Delaware and she seems to have found a jockey who fits her like a glove (interesting enough this same jockey also had success on my all time favorite horse). Icon Project for second and Morena for third.

Well I hope you enjoyed my preview! I promise to have photos up in a timely manner this time. I'm actually thinking of buying a domain and hosting, because Final Turn Gallery is shutting down, so I think I'll make one so that people who photograph horses can share them with others.