Delaware Park News & Notes

Cooke Creek takes Rocky Run Stakes

Wilmington, Del., October 16, 2021 — Cheyenne Stable’s Cooke Creek notched his first career stakes victory in $50,000 Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Angel Suarez astride, the 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo returned $29.60.  The Kentucky-bred trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, who missed the victory because he was stuck in traffic on interstate I-95, won by a half-length and covered the mile in 1:39.71 over a fast and sealed main track.  The 2-to-1 favorite in the field of ten, Affable Monarch, with Isaac Castillo closed to get second.  It was a 2 1/4-lengths farther back to No Sabe Nada, with Frankie Pennington, in third.  Keiko Krahe, with William Otero, cut early fractions of :49.67 for the half mile and 1:14.09 for the three-quarters mile before fading to fifth.

In his only other career outing, Cooke Creek closed to notch a 3-length triumph in a six-furlong maiden at Delaware Park on September 8^th.

“I had a lot of faith in this horse today just because of the way he won last time,” said winning jockey Angel Suarez, who got the mount because Sheldon Russell, who was aboard Cooke Creek for his debut maiden score, was sidelined due to an injury.  “It was really impressive.  It looked like once he turned for home, he wanted to keep on going and he was going short.  Today, going long, I knew all I had to do was to get him in good position and it will be game over.”

Cooke Creek raised his career record to two wins from two starts with earnings of $52,800.

Delaware Park News & Notes

Red Hot Mess scores first stakes victory in White Clay Creek Stakes

Wilmington, Del., October 13, 2021 — Lewis Matthews Jr.’s Red Hot Mess notched her first career stakes victory in $50,000 White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With John Hiraldo astride, the 2-year-old daughter of Shackleford returned $26.00.  The Kentucky-bred trained by Chelsey Moysey won by 1 3/4-lengths and covered the mile in 1:38.13 over a fast-main track.  Bazinga C, with William Otero, cut early fractions of :25.06 for the quarter, :48.53 for the half and 1:11.92 for the three-quarters before finishing second.  It was a half length farther back to the 4-to-5 favorite in the field of eight, Joyrunner with Joseph Ramos, in third.

“The plan was to let the speed go and sit right off of them,” said winning trainer Chelsey Moysey.  “We have done a lot of work her in terms of getting her to rate and her pedigree screams two turns.  She is a half to a pretty nice filly who set a track record (Bootsy’s Girl).  We knew she could get the distance and it was just a matter of how the race played out. They went the first quarter a little slow and I was a little worried about that, but John (Hiraldo) did exactly what we planned and everything paid off.  Between the two of us, we had done a lot of work on her and it is very gratifying to get this victory with her.”

Red Hot Mess raised her career record to two wins from as many starts with earnings of $52,800.

LA BABIA WINS GEORGE ROSENBERGER MEMORIAL

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — Helen K. Grove Revocable Trust’s La Babia won the $75,000 George Rosenberger Memorial at Delaware Park today.

With Angel Suarez aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Bayern returned $34.80. The Kentucky-bred trained by Michael Matz won by 3/4-l

engths and covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.06 over a firm turf course. B B’s Busted, with Daniel Centeno, finished second. It was a half-length farther back to Advocating, with Mychel Sanhcez, in third. The 6-to-5 favorite in the field of eleven, Tightly Twisted, with Jhonatan Mendoza, finished sixth.

La Babia raised her career record to three wins from 16 starts with earnings of $139,800.

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TAPPIN CAT VICTORIOUS IN DTHA GOVERNORS DAY HANDICAP

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — Non Stop Stable’s Tappin Cat posted the victory in the $75,000 DTHA Governors Day Handicap at Delaware Park today.

With Jevian Toledo aboard, the 5-year-old son of Tritap returned $8.00 as the second choice in the field of seven. The Maryland-bred trained by Gary Capuano won by a head and covered the mile and seventy yards in 1:39.92 over fast main track. Senior Investment, with Daniel Centeno, finished second. It was a neck farther back to Bal Harbour, with Mychel Sanchez, in third. The 8-to-5 favorite, Mischief Afoot, with Carol Cedeno, finished fourth.

WHERESHETOLDMETOGO WINS NEW CASTLE

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and BTR Racing’s Whereshetoldmetogo scored a victory in the Delaware bred or certified $100,000 New Castle Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Jevian Toledo astride, the 6-year-old son of El Padrino returned $4.20 as the favorite in the field of six. The Maryland-bred trained by Brittany Russell won by a neck and covered the six furlongs in 1:09.09 over fast main track. Aspect, with Roberto Alvarado Jr., finished second a head in front of Threes Over Deuces, with Mychel Sanchez, in third.

Whereshetoldmetogo notched his last victory came in the six furlong $50,000 Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park on July 3. He followed with a third in the six furlong $100,000 Challedon Stakes at Pimlico on July 31 and in his last, he finished fourth in the Chesapeake Stakes at Colonial Downs on August 23.

“He ran huge and it is nice to get him back winning,” said winning trainer Brittany Russell who also won the Small Wonder Stakes earlier in the day. “He ran against some real tough horses the last couple of times and we know he likes Delaware, so this has been the target for a while. He is a tough good horse who runs hard every time, so it is nice to see him back in the winner’s circle.”

Last year, Whereshetoldmetogo won the New Castle Stakes but was disqualified and placed second by the stewards.

Whereshetoldmetogo raised his career record to 12 wins from 30 starts with earnings of $699,791. His Delaware Park record is five wins and two seconds from seven starts. Jockey Jevian Toldeo also won the DTHA Governors Day Handicap and the Small Wonder Stakes earlier in the card.

NO SABE NADA NOTCHES FIRST CAREER STAKES VICTORY IN FIRST STATE DASH

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — R Racing Stable’s No Sabe Nada notched his first career stake victory in the Delaware bred or certified $100,000 First State Dash at Delaware Park today.

With Roberto Alvarao Jr astride, the 2-year-old son of Jersey Town returned $6.00 as the second choice in the field of ten. The Kentucky-bred trained by D. Scott Peck won by a half-length and covered the five and half furlongs in 1:03.69 over fast main track. The 3-to-2 favorite Rebel Empire, with Aubrie Green, finished second. It was 1 ¾-lengths farther back to Amazing Alex, with Victor Rosales, in third.

“It is nice to get a stakes win on Owners Day,” said winning trainer D. Scott Peck. “We are happy he got the win and we are looking forward to stretching him out. We are going to point for the stake going long here in a few weeks. ($50,000 Rocky Run Stakes a one mile on October 16th)”

No Sabe Nada raised his career record to two wins from three starts with earnings of $138,500.

STREET LUTE SCORES IN TAX FREE SHOPPING DISTAFF

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — Lucky 7 Stables’ Street Lute won the Delaware bred or certified $100,000 Tax Shopping Distaff Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Xaxier Perez astride, the 3-year-old daughter of Street Magician returned $4.20 as the favorite in the field of six. The Maryland-bred trained by John Robb won by 3/4-lengths and covered the six furlongs in 1:09.45 over fast main track. Malibu Beauty, with Mychel Sanchez, finished second. It was a neck farther back to Plane Drunk, with Jevian Toledo, in third.

Street Lute, the 2020 Delaware Certified Horse of the Year, raised her record to nine wins from 14 starts with earnings of $545,720. She is now a perfect three-for-three at Delaware Park.

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MURPH TAKES SMALL WONDER

Wilmington, Del., September 25, 2021 — Cash Is King and LC Racing’s Murph notched her first career victory in the Delaware bred or certified $100,000 Small Wonder Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Jevian Toledo astride, the 2-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon returned $8.20 as the second-choice in the field of seven. The Maryland-bred trained by Brittany Russell won by 4 1/2-lengths and covered the five and half furlongs in 1:03.72 over fast main track. Whiteknuckleflyer, with Jorge Ruiz, finished second. It was 4-lengths farther back to Mama G’s Wish, with Xavier Perez, in third. The 2-to-1 favorite, Cashing Big Checks, with Jaime Rodriguez, finished fourth.

“It worked out beautiful today,” said winning trainer Brittany Russell. “Breaking from the rail, had me a little concerned because in her last race breaking from the rail did not really work out. She was a maiden so she had to answer some questions today. She had a really good work wearing blinkers. We decided to try blinkers after her second at Pimlico. She just responded today. Jevian (Toledo) gave her a beautiful ride and she got the job done. She is Maryland-bred, so we have some nice options down the road down there. But we will get her home, regroup and go from there.”

Murph raised her career record to a win from three starts with earnings of $121,160.

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