Wednesday Wagers: Midnight Getaway strikes at Delaware
Eight races are on the docket at Delaware Park on Wednesday, and I’ve got picks for five of these events below.
Best bet: Midnight Getaway (race 1)
Best value bet: Surya (race 7)
Race 1
No. 3 Midnight Getaway (7-2) makes sense if you can forgive his flat last-out effort. He won his previous two in well-rated efforts vs. similar foes, and stretching out to a mile seems within his reach. No. 4 Stardust Ziggy (6-1) was a decent third here earlier in the month and sheds weight. No. 2 Golden Gulley (8-5, morning-line favorite) is not the type of runner I like to bet after fading late on the class drop just a few days ago.
How I’d bet it (based on a $100 budget): $16 win 3, $2 exacta box 3/4
Race 2
No. 5 Honor the Cross (9-5, morning-line favorite) looms large cutting back after showing good speed going longer for Gary Capuano (43 percent), who names Jamie Rodriguez (34 percent) to ride. No. 4 Carentan (5-2) showed improvement second time out on the class drop, earning a speed figure good enough to compete with these. No. 1 Secret Saturday (7-2) took third in each of his first two starts here – toss his lone effort of the year routing vs. much tougher at Oaklawn.
How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 5/1,4
Race 6
No. 4 Your Analysis (7-2) drilled a bullet ahead of his first start off a minor layoff. His last two races at Laurel were solid and Samy Camacho sees fit to pick up the mount. No. 1 Get Set (8-5, morning-line favorite) has won each of his last two sprints and is fast enough to take this on paper, but his ability to get a route of ground is questionable. No. 5 What Does It Take (8-1) will take them as far as he can.
How I’d bet it: $7 exacta box 1/4, $3 exacta 1,4/5
Race 7
No. 2 Surya (6-1) came up short on conditioning when last seen in what was surely a saltier field at Pimlico on Preakness weekend than what she’ll meet here. Her prior turf try from last November puts her in the hunt, and the hidden class drop should protect her price from falling too low. No. 8 Etheric (4-1) was gaining late last time out and gets a little more ground today while luring Rodriguez – logical alternative. No. 4 Lute Warm (10-1) was a neck away from graduating from the maiden ranks on grass before earning the diploma in the mud – expect improvement and possibly early speed from this one in a race lacking it.
How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 2/4/8, $4 exacta 2/4,8
Race 8
No. 3 Survival Rose (7-5, morning-line favorite) lures apprentice Ederik Robles (26 percent) and gets the accompanying weight break while turning back to a sprint and trying a new low – should boss these unless she just doesn’t care for this oval. No. 5 Sheza Nasty Girl (3-1) steps up slightly off a win while going from one hot-riding bug to another in Robles to Gabriel Maldonado (27 percent). No. 6 Exageradora (8-1) makes the same jump up that Sheza Nasty Girl does while turning back from a route – intriguing at a price.
How I’d bet it: $7 exacta 3/5,6, $1 exacta box 3/5/6
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.