Let’s try to close out May with a bang. Here are my top plays at Delaware Park on Wednesday.
Best bet: Three Sport Coats (race 2)
Best value pet: Stellar Lute (race 3)
Race 1
No. 6 Yooou Know (8-5) held her own against similar on dirt at Gulfstream and later tired to third after dueling at Pimlico. Mychel Sanchez (21 percent) is clearly the best jockey in the race, and the outside post should help him work out the right trip. No. 2 Shemademeblush (6-5, morning-line favorite) drops in class but gets a trainer downgrade. Though the speed figures on synthetic make her a player, she needs to prove she can handle the dirt. No. 5 Lady Lancer (8-1) is 0-for-15 lifetime but has completed the exacta in two of her last three efforts.
How I’d bet it (based on a $100 budget): $12 exacta 6/2, $4 exacta 2/6, $4 exacta 6/5
Race 2
No. 6 Three Sport Coats (9-5, morning-line favorite) won in a romp in her return to dirt for Jamie Ness (25 percent at the young meet). A repeat of that effort would make her difficult to beat here, and she gets in light with 10-pound apprentice Skylar Zaplitny. No. 5 Victorian Riviera (3-1) tired through the lane when last seen, but she cuts back and tries a new low. She also lures Daniel Centeno, who’s won twice and placed once through five starts at the meet. No. 3 Dorothy’s the Boss (4-1) is 1-for-19 lifetime, but she owns a win over this course and has races from earlier this year at Tampa that would put her in the hunt.
How I’d bet it: $12 exacta 6/5, $8 exacta 6/3
Race 3
No. 12 Stellar Lute (15-1) could light up the toteboard in a race that looks ripe for an upset. He had a difficult trip off the bench in his turf debut, jostling early and rushing up before fading late vs. tougher. The post could be a challenge, but the class drop and jockey switch to the experienced Angel Arroyo could make up for it. No. 2 Praline’s Cat (5-1) should be up close in a race lacking early speed. He’s finished second in two straight vs. like foes at Tampa. No. 3 Mr Laoban (9-2) would likely be a longer shot if anyone but Ness was training him. He showed little on dirt at first asking, but the pedigree offers hope for a turnaround and Jaime Rodriguez (30 percebt at Delaware) sees fit to climb aboard.
How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 2/3/12, $4 win/place 12
Race 4
No. 5 Alvy (6-5, morning-line favorite) looks like a big threat right back off a win at this level at Pimlico. The sharp connections of Brittany Russell and Jevian Toledo (46 percent over their last 46 races) will team up here. No. 1 Mission Key (5-2) takes a big drop in class off a long layoff. He has races good enough to beat these, but his ability to run one here in his 6-year-old debut is anyone’s guess. No. 6 Hop and Scotch (7-2) had a decent winter at Tampa from a speed figure perspective and lures Centeno on the ship in.
How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 5/1,6
Race 7
No. 6 Mr. Shades of Gray (4-1, morning-line favorite) gets a tepid nod in a wide-open Wednesday feature. He encountered all kinds of traffic trouble in a wild heat at Monmouth in his 2023 debut. If Toledo can keep this Graham Motion runner in the clear, he should prove best. No. 4 Ocean City (5-1) gets Sheldon Russell aboard for Brittany Russell off a gate-to-wire win at Keeneland. No. 12 Bassanio (6-1) has the speed to overcome the outside draw and exits a well-rated maiden score.
How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 4/6/12, $4 exacta 6/4,12
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.
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