Wednesday Wagers: A 5-pack of plays for Delaware
An intriguing eight-race card in on tap at Delaware Park Wednesday. Let’s discuss my five favorite events on the program.
Best Bet: Coppola (Race 3)
Best Value Bet: Unconquered Spirit (Race 7)
Race 2
No. 7 Backatya (3-1) is the lone three-time winner in the field and goes first off the claim for Jamie Ness (33 percent) – don’t be shocked if he goes off favored. No. 4 Always Drinking (4-1) outfinished the top choice in the slop here on June 23 – note the jockey swap of Jamie Rodriguez and Daniel Centeño on the top two selections. No. 1 Law of the Land (2-1, morning-line favorite) has a decent 6: 1-2-1 record on the dirt but has never gone this distance.
How I’d bet it (based on $100 budget): $4 exacta key box 7/1,4, $2 exacta box 1/4
Race 3
No. 1 Coppola (8-5, morning-line favorite) is an $800,000 son of Into Mischief and shows strong works at Monmouth for trainer Jonathan Thomas, a 19 percent winner with first-time starters – short price looms. No. 4 Steady John (6-1) frequently outruns his odds and has hit the board in each of his first two starts at Delaware; consider. No. 3 Proud Civilian (6-1) has completed the exacta in two of his first three tries at this level; logical.
How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 1/3,4
Race 4
No. 1 Shero (2-1, morning-line favorite) has been in good form this year (6: 1-2-2) and takes a slight drop in class. He's a threat to wire these. No. 6 Pink Shoelaces (4-1) crushed a similar group over this course last month and retains Carol Cedeño – a sensible alternative. No. 2 Midtown Rose (3-1) has the speed figures to compete with these, but is 1-for-15 since the start of 2021.
How I’d bet it: $8 exacta 1/2,6, $4 exacta 6/1
Race 5
No. 9 Mahkato (3-1, morning-line favorite) didn’t do much running in her seasonal debut last month in an off-the-turf affair but should improve returning to the grass. Trainer Cathal Lynch has been pushing all the right buttons at the meet (38 percent), names Mychel Sanchez (29: 6-4-4) to ride and returns Mahkato to a level where she won in two of her last three attempts. No. 5 Purrageous Dyna (4-1) gets class relief shipping in from Belmont for Edward Allard (19: 5-4-5 at Delaware) and lures Cedeño; consider. No. 7 Riveting Spirit (5-1) attracts Rodriguez and tries a new low – could gain late for a share.
How I’d bet it: $8 exacta 9/5,7, $4 exacta 5/9
Race 7
No. 4 Unconquered Spirit (6-1) brings a solid track record (5: 2-2-1) into this heat and fits with these on speed figures. He could go gate-to-wire at a nice price. No. 10 Initforlove (8-1) will be rolling late under Cedeno if he can get back to his Tampa form from earlier in the year. The drop in class should help. No. 12 Sandy Lane Kitten (5-1) has begrudgingly ceded the lead in the stretch in each of his last two starts here. The post won’t help, but he’s still a win contender.
How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 4/10/12, $6 win 4, $2 win 10
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.