Delaware Park to Open With Obeah Stakes and Spectators
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Gotham Gala (No. 2) heads to the track with the 2019 Delaware Handicap field at Delaware Park
Delaware Park will open for its 83rd season of racing June 17 with a 10-race card topped by the $100,000 Obeah Stakes for fillies and mares.
Spectators will be welcome to the track, where social distancing and enhanced safety protocols will be in place.
Wednesday's card attracted 119 entries, 12 of whom are in the 1 1/16-mile Obeah, a local prep for the July 11 Delaware Handicap (G2).
Trainer Arnaud Delacour has two entered in the Obeah: Mark Grier's Gotham Gala, who won the race in 2019, and Denlea Park and Kent Spellman's Fashion Faux Pas. That pair will face Phoenix Thoroughbreds and KatieRich Stables' multiple graded stakes winner Lady Apple from the Steve Asmussen barn.
Gotham Gala will make her 5-year-old debut. After last year's victory, the Smart Strike mare finished fourth in the Delaware Handicap behind Elate, Escape Clause, and Blue Prize. She was fourth last out in the Nov. 2 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Jockey Trevor McCarthy will ride from post 5.
Gotham Gala breezed a bullet half-mile in :48 1/5 on dirt at Fair Hill Training Center June 13.
"She is doing really well," Delacour said. "Last year, she needed a race to really get going, but she really looks good and I think she is ready, so I am expecting a big effort from her."
Fashion Faux Pas won the Light Hearted Stakes at Delaware last June. In her 4-year-old debut May 16, she set the pace before fading to sixth in an allowance optional claimer on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs. Daniel Centeno has the mount from post 8.
The Flatter filly had the quickest five-furlong work on Fair Hill's all-weather June 12, breezing 1:00.
"She is doing great," Delacour said. "I am very happy with her. She had a really good breeze on Friday. She is ready and she likes the course at Delaware Park. I know her recent form has been so-so, but I think she is ready to redeem herself. I am expecting strong efforts from both of my girls on Wednesday."
Lady Apple opened her 4-year-old season with a win over Serengeti Empress in the Jan. 26 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park. The Curlin filly will look to rebound from fifth and eighth, respectively, in the March 14 Azeri Stakes (G2) and April 18 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. Ricardo Santana Jr. retains the mount from post 4.
Lady Apple will carry 124 pounds, and the rest of the field carries 120.
The field also includes multiple stakes winner Bronx Beauty and Vault, the winner of the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes at Laurel Park in November. Vault was third behind Dunbar Road and Chocolate Kisses in the May 23 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs after being bumped at the start.
Live racing at Delaware will be conducted through Oct. 17 and is scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Thursdays will be added July 16 and continue through Oct. 1. First post daily is 1:15 p.m. ET.
Delaware Park, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Race 8Entries: Obeah S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Bronx Beauty (PA)
Isaac Castillo
120
Anthony R. Margotta, Jr.
15/1
2
2Wicked Awesome (KY)
Frankie Pennington
120
A. Ferris Allen, III
12/1
3
3Trolley Ride (PA)
Inoel Beato
120
T. Bernard Houghton
15/1
4
4Lady Apple (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
124
Steven M. Asmussen
7/2
5
5Gotham Gala (KY)
Trevor McCarthy
120
Arnaud Delacour
5/1
6
6Ujjayi (PA)
Tyler Conner
120
Erin C. McClellan
15/1
7
7Vault (PA)
Florent Geroux
120
Brad H. Cox
6/1
8
8Fashion Faux Pas (KY)
Daniel Centeno
120
Arnaud Delacour
8/1
9
9Afleet Destiny (KY)
Anthony Salgado
120
Uriah St. Lewis
20/1
10
10Lucky Move (NY)
Roberto J. Rosado
120
Juan Carlos Guerrero
8/1
11
11Motion Emotion (KY)
Carol Cedeno
120
Richard Baltas
5/1
12
12Trace of Grace (PA)
UNKNOWN
120
T. Bernard Houghton
20/1
