Delaware Trip Paid Off for Likely Exchange

In conjunction with Tom Hall's Throwback Thursday features in BloodHorse Daily, BloodHorse.com will present corresponding race stories from the pages of the magazine each Thursday. This week is a recap of the 1979 Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park, written by Tracy Gantz with the headline "The Delaware Handicap" from the Sept. 8, 1979 issue.

Last year, on her way to an Eclipse Award as best handicap filly, Late Bloomer won the $100,000-added Delaware Handicap (gr. I) over Dottie's Doll and Cum Laude Laurie. Her toughest foe of the season, Pearl Necklace, did not compete in the Delaware, but the two originally were scheduled to meet in this year's edition.

Late Bloomer then was injured and retired, however, and Pearl Necklace remained in New York to win the $100,000-added Flower Bowl Handicap on the turf (a race named for a mare which won the Delaware Handicap in 1956). Also entered in Belmont Park's Flower Bowl were Terpsichorist, The Very One, La Soufriere, and Warfever, leaving a light field for the 46th Delaware Handicap on Sept. 2.

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s Likely Exchange and Mrs. Morton Rosenthal's Water Malone, which finished second and third, respectively, in Lotta Honey's Aug. 18 Sheridan Handicap (gr. II) at Arlington Park, shipped in for the Delaware event from Chicago. The Delaware Park crowd of 9,203 made Water Malone, a topweight at 115 pounds, a narrow favorite at nearly 3-1 over Likely Exchange (112 pounds), the second choice.

Debby's Turn took the early lead, followed by Lady Baltimore Handicap winner Push 'n Six and Sans Critique. Mark Sellers, son of former rider John Sellers, had Likely Exchange in sixth place after a quarter-mile, which was run :22 3/5.

"She usually runs from off the pace," Sellers said after the 10-furlong race, "so I dropped her head and let her run the way she wanted until it was time to go."

Entering the final turn, Sellers decided it was "time to go," and Likely Exchange responded eagerly. Debby's Turn dropped back as Likely Exchange moved forward in the field, and Humphrey's mare was in front by 1 1/2 lengths after a mile in 1:37 1/5. At that point, Water Malone was running fourth and appeared capable of making a challenge. She lacked a final kick, however, and never did mount a serious threat.

Once Likely Exchange got the lead, she widened her margin, and she came to the wire 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Sans Critique, which held on to finish second by a nose. Plains and Simple finished third, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Water Malone.

Time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:03 2/5, which is three seconds slower than the track record.

"This race was set up just the way she likes it," said trainer Thomas H. Stevens Sr. of Likely Exchange, "plenty of early speed so she could come from off the pace. She's dead game. She won't win them all, but you have to beat her every time."

Stevens, who has been training since 1945, said Likely Exchange will get a rest until the Keeneland October meeting, when she will be pointed for the Spinster Stakes (gr. I). He said she probably will run next in a Keeneland prep race for that stakes.

"Likely Exchange has won at least one stakes every year, beginning when she was a 3-year-old," Stevens said, "but this is her biggest win."

It was Stevens' biggest win, also. Born into the Thoroughbred business, the son of trainer James B. Stevens began training for his father. Tommy Stevens' brother, Herb, trains Rockhill Native, with which he recently won his richest race ever, the Sapling (gr. I). Tommy Stevens' son, Thomas H. Jr., assists his father with his stable.

"I originally was going to come to Delaware Park for the season," Likely Exchange's trainer said, "but, to my sorrow, I went to Chicago. I shipped Likely Exchange down here about 10 days ago, and my son has been taking care of her for me."

Twenty-year-old Sellers, who began riding in 1976 at Churchill Downs, noted that the race occasioned his first in a $100,000 event.

"She went to the front easily," he said, "and she ran easily through the stretch. I hit her, and when I did, she switched leads. She's temperamental. If she's doing her best and in front, she'll react to the whip by switching leads."

James Walford, aboard Sans Critique, said that, "I wish the track had been a little faster. I wouldn't be surprised if, the next time they meet, my mare beats the mare that won today."

Roger Velez, who rode Plains and Simple, said that he thought his filly could have won if she had not lugged out.

"We thought Likely Exchange was the horse to beat," he said, "so our plan was to follow her. Because my horse was lugging in, I couldn't pull off other horses. She ran only from the quarter pole to the wire."

Owner Humphrey said of Likely Exchange, "Every time she runs, she runs her race. That's what we like about her--she's so honest.

"As far as conformation is concerned, she's not outstanding, but on performance, she really is. She's not big, but she's tough."

Humphrey's grandmother, Mrs. George M. Humphrey, bred Likely Exchange, a 5-year-old daughter of Terrible Tiger—Likely Swap, by Swaps.