Wednesday Wagers: Delta Ridge dominates at Delaware
There’s potential for some races to come off the turf on Wednesday with a major storm passing over Delaware Park on Monday along with a slight chance of rain on race day. Keep an eye on the sky as you follow along with my Wednesday wagers.
Best bet: Delta Ridge (race 2)
Best value bet: Who’s Counting (race 7)
Race 1
No. 7 Beargrease (2-1, morning-line favorite) has a clear speed figure edge from her last three races of 2022, it’s just a matter of her bringing them off the bench. The return works are strong. No. 3 Here's Perfection (7-2) won at first asking, but nothing has gone right in two starts since. A return to sprinting and a drop in class should both help immensely. No. 6 Suzy Q the Queen (6-1) won over this track last year and picked up four third-place checks before hitting the shelf. It seems she’ll be one of many trying to come from off the pace, while the top two choices could enjoy being close to a sensible pace.
How I’d bet it (based on a $100 budget): $10 exacta 7/3,6
Race 2
No. 4 Delta Ridge (5-2, morning-line favorite) might be 1-for-18 lifetime, but he’s 3: 1-1-0 on fast dirt, with a place effort over this course in one of two career tries on a wet track. If he runs back to either of his last two dirt speed figures earned at Tampa this year, the rest of the field is running for second. No. 3 Sidney’s Bid (4-1) has been third in three of five lifetime tries going a route of ground on dirt, logical underneath. No. 1 Orocovix (6-1) lures Jaime Rodriguez and might be facing easier shipping in from the Maryland circuit.
How I’d bet it: $24 win 4
Race 3
No. 8 Downtown Katie (3-1) has the speed figures to take this race, but so does No. 6 Katies a Lady (2-1, morning-line favorite). The chess match consists of the latter trying to take them gate-to-wire under Jose Gomez, while the former and Jaime Rodriguez will bide their time at the back. With Katies a Lady having the potential for any of three pace rivals in No. 1 Sayyida Al Hurra, No. 2 Bali Kuta or No. 3 Nibbles, this handicapper will side with Downtown Katie on top. Bali Kuta (9-2) is hard to leave out of the equation with four wins in her last five tries, albeit she’s somewhat light on speed figures.
How I’d bet it: $8 exacta box 6/8, $2 exacta 6,8/2
Dirt picks: 3-10-7
Race 6
No. 5 Borracho (5-2) is talented enough to lead these on a merry chase and take his third straight race for Jamie Ness and Rodriguez. No. 7 Chicks Dig Scars (9-5, morning-line favorite) and Hector Diaz will try to keep the top one in their sights from the outside – no small task. Still, this son of Tapiture has the staying power to make for an interesting stretch run, and he won three straight before taking second over this course last time out. No. 4 Awesome Strong (7-2) put forth strong efforts vs. mostly Florida-breds at Gulfstream as a juvenile, but this looks like a tough spot to make his 3-year-old debut.
How I’d bet it: $8 exacta box 5/7
Race 7
No. 9 Who’s Counting (7-2) is a rare runner with the ability to transition from flat races to jump events and back without missing a beat. In fact, he might be better outside the steeplechase circuit, with two wins in his last three flat tries, and four straight losses over the hurdles (4: 0-2-1). Rodriguez sees fit to climb aboard. No. 3 Scanno (9-2) exits an October layoff but was a good second off an extended vacation last summer, part of a brief but solid campaign on the lawn. No. 1 Tom Hagen (10-1) could be the controlling speed and has back class to compete with these at a nice price.
How I’d bet it: $12 win 9, $2 exacta key box 9/1,3
Dirt picks: 6-5-4
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.