Wednesday's Best Bet: Navajo gets class relief at Delaware

Handicapper: Reinier Macatangay
Track: Delaware
Race 9 – Post Time 5:15 p.m. ET

Three-year-old fillies will go six furlongs in Delaware Park's 9th race on Wednesday. This analysis will focus on the topic of class in handicapping.

One of these runners simply comes from better races. Two of them come close to the win pick in class and ability, but the rest are far off.

#4 Navajo (3-1) – The seventh-place finish at Belmont Park is forgivable because it came in New York. This is Delaware. TimeformUS gives a class rating of 107 for her last start, and the class rating here is a 95. The connections thought highly enough of Navajo to run her in the Tempted Stakes (G3) last fall, and she broke her maiden at Belmont. Plus, she ran well at the ultra-difficult Saratoga meet. This is the main selection.

#1 Yes I Dance (4-1) – The 99 TimeformUS Speed Figure earned two starts back might be good enough in this spot. Throw out the most recent Parx effort, as it came on a sloppy track. The forecast calls for only light rain the night before. She cuts back to six furlongs, too, which might help.

#2 Piece of Candy (8-1) – Throw out the recent Laurel Park effort, as it came in a two-turn route. This is a six-furlong race, and her two starts at the distance are solid. She earned 92 and 95 TimeformUS Speed Figures in those races, and only a slight step up is needed to hit the board or win.

#3 Trickizar (8-1) – Her recent numbers are light, but this is a consistent filly who usually gets a piece. She has hit the board in 6 out of 12 starts.

#6 Slightly Tipsy (6-1) – The May 12 runner-up finish came up light in the final speed figure. She ran over a sloppy racetrack, though, so forgive the loss and the slow time. This Uncle Mo filly was meant to be a nice one as a $95,000 purchase.

#7 Dialin (10-1) – Her numbers are not too different than Slightly Tipsy or Trickizar. With a good trip from behind, maybe she can get a small piece.

#5 Nth Degree (2-1) – She can improve, but her morning line odds seem way off considering her best TimeformUS Speed Figure is a 75. Maybe she looks better using Beyer Speed Figures. The Breen/Pedroza combination is 0-for-4. Despite the questionable morning line, she is capable of getting a piece. 

The Play:

Win - 4
Trifecta - 4 / 1,2 / 1,2,3,5,6,7