Delaware Handicap Odds and Analysis
by Bodog Racebook | Jul 13 2011
On Saturday, July 16, fillies and mares 3 years old and up will take to the track at Delaware Park for the $750,000 Gr. 2 Delaware Handicap. Blind Luck, Havre de Grace and Tiz Miz Sue are among the expected for this 1 ¼ mile race.
A string of runner-up finishes that dogged Blind Luck through the end of 2010 and the beginning of the 2011 season may finally be broken as she looks to extend her win streak to three. Her 4-year-old campaign began at Santa Anita Park where she put together two back-to-back runner-up performances, in the Gr. 2 El Encino Stakes on Jan. 16 and the Gr. 2 La Canada Stakes on Feb. 13. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck then finished second in the Gr. 3 Azeri Stakes in March. She got back on track with a win in the Gr. 2 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs and then switched to the all-weather track at Hollywood Park on June 18 and won the Gr. 1 Vanity Handicap by half a length. She will try her luck once more on dirt at Delaware Park for the Delaware Handicap and will bring a career 20-11-7-2 record and $2,829,520 in earnings to the race.
Nipping at Blind Luck’s heels for the title of top older female is Havre de Grace, a Saint Liam filly who is looking to add a fourth consecutive victory to her 2011 campaign. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic last year, Havre de Grace is unbeaten so far this year. She won the Gr. 3 Azeri Stakes in March and then the Gr. 1 Apple Blossom Handicap in April, both at Oaklawn Park. The 4-year-old Larry Jones trainee is already a winner at Delaware Park, capturing the Gr. 3 Obeah Stakes on June 11 as her Delaware Handicap prep. She turned in a 5-furlong breeze in 1:01.00 at Delaware Park on July 4 and will be looking to build on her $1,371,175 career earnings for owner Fox Hill Farms.
Bringing extensive experience racing at Delaware Park is Tiz Miz Sue, a 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow. Trained by Steve Hobby for Cresran LLC, Tiz Miz Sue ran runner-up to Havre de Grace in the Obeah Stakes in her last outing. Her previous race, the Winter Melody Stakes also at Delaware Park on May 14, was a 1 ¼ length victory. She is 5-5-1 from 17 career starts and has earned $242,209 thus far; a 5-furlong breeze at Delaware Park was timed in 1:03.40 on July 8. Tiz Miz Sue will be stretching out for the Delaware Handicap; she has never raced beyond 1 1/8 miles.
Also possible for the Delaware Handicap are Payton D’oro, Repreive, Sarah’s Song and Sweet N Sour Nina.
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