Betting the Delaware Handicap on a $20 Budget

Rosalind looks for a graded stakes win on dirt to go along with her graded stakes wins on turf and synthetic in Saturday's Delaware Handicap. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Saturday’s Grade I $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park drew a field of seven talented fillies and mares, but the only participant coming off a win is Frivolous who was last seen posting a 32-1 upset in the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. She looks to be the main speed threat in this field and this will be the first time she tries this distance.
My pick to win is the Chad Brown trainee Rosalind. Although most of her success has been on the turf and synthetic tracks, I like that her trainer is giving her another chance on the dirt. She is still in search of her first win on the dirt but has shown talent with her third-place finish in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies and a fourth-place finish in the 2014 Kentucky Oaks. The distance should not be a problem for her and I think she will get a good pace to set up her closing kick.
Sheer Drama looks like she will be sitting a good stalking trip behind Frivolous. She is in sharp form and has not finished worse than second in five starts this year. If Frivolous doesn’t get away to a clean start, Sheer Drama might set the pace while Frivolous applies the pressure.
Flashy American is the other runner that I think has a good shot to hit the exacta. She finished third in the 2014 edition of the Delaware Handicap. Her preferred running style appears to be closing from the back of the pack and she might be in a great position if Sheer Drama and Frivolous duel up front. She is the most experienced of the group and her six wins on the fast dirt lead the field.
Bets on a $20 Budget:
$10 Win: #6 Rosalind.
$5 Exacta: #6 Rosalind with #4 Flashy American
$5 Exacta: #6 Rosalind with #5 Sheer Drama
$750,000 Delaware Handicap
Saturday, Delaware Park, Race 10 at 5:45 p.m. ET
1 1/4 miles, dirt, fillies and mares 3-years-old and older

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

ML Odds

Owner

1

Frivolous

Jon Court

Victoria Oliver

3-1

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

2

America

Junior Alvarado

Bill Mott

8-1

Bobby Flay

3

Fortune Pearl

Trevor McCarthy

Graham Motion

10-1

RMJ Stables

4

Flashy American

Edgar Prado

Kenny McPeek

4-1

Preston Stables

5

Sheer Drama

Joe Bravo

David Fawkes

2-1

Harold L. Queen

6

Rosalind

Joel Rosario

Chad Brown

6-1

Bethlehem Stables, Michael Dubb and Highclere America

7

Joint Return

Kendrick Carmouche

John Servis

8-1

Main Line Racing Stable