Scratch of Prime Engine Opens Up Bob Hope

 

Prime Engine, the  3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Bob Hope Stakes, was scratched Saturday morning, necessitating a revision of the lineup and morning line.

 

The connections of Prime Engine, owned by Mark Dedomenico and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer,  are considering running the undefeated (2-for-2) 2-year-old  son of Northern Afleet in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot on November 2 at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel in Vinton, La.

 

“He’s the first one in the Delta Jackpot if there’s a scratch, so we’ll have to kind of play it by ear,” Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward said Friday afternoon. “The van that brings him down here leaves at 3 a.m. (Saturday), so we’ll have to decide by then.”

 

Thirteen were pre-entered Wednesday for the Delta Downs race which has a maximum field of  10. Among the pre-entries were two from Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas that ran in $2 million Breeders’ Cup races on November 1 at Santa Anita.

 

Take Charge Brandi pulled off a $125.40 upset in the Juvenile Fillies. Mr. Z was fifth in the Juvenile.

 

Wake Up Nick, winner of the Graduation and I’m Smokin Stakes here last summer, is also among the pre-entered. Final entries will be taken and post positions drawn on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

 

The Hope, 7 furlongs on Polytrack, is the first graded stakes of the Bing Crosby Season. It is the first of two stakes for 2-year-olds this weekend. The $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies headlines Sunday’s program.

 

The Bob Hope goes as the eighth of Saturday’s program, The Desi Arnaz  is the second on Sunday’s card. Nine races are scheduled each day with first post at 12:30 p.m.

 

The Bob Hope field in post position order, with oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s revised morning line, is:  Sebastian’s Heart (Corey Nakatani, 6-1), Story to Tell (Joe Talamo, 6-1), Diamond Majesty (Martin Pedroza, 9-2), Every May (Saul Arias, 15-1), Alright Alright (Kent Desormeaux, 5-2), All Indians (Kent Desormeaux, 9-2) No Problem (Victor Espinoza, 12-1), St. Joe Bay (Elvis Trujillo, 4-1).

 

Source: Del Mar Communications