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Dunbar Road Tops Field Of Eight In Delaware Handicap

Peter M. Brant's Dunbar Road tops the 83rd renewal of the $400,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park this Saturday. The filly and mare summer classic has attracted a field of eight. This is the first time the race will be run at a mile and an eighth. The race had been contested at mile and a quarter and prior to 1951 at a mile and a sixteenth.

In her only outing this year, Dunbar Road posted a 1 ¾-length victory in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 23. Last year, the 4-year-old trained by Chad Brown won the Grade II Mother Goose at Belmont Park and the Grade I Alabama at Saratoga before running third in the Grade I Spinster at Keeneland. The daughter of Quality Road closed her 2019 campaign by finishing fifth in the Grade I Breeder's' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. She has career record of five wins, a second and a third from eight starts with earnings $758,040.

The morning-line odds second choice is Mathis Stable, Madaket Stables and Doheny Racing Stable's Bellera. The 4-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher has a career record of four wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts with earnings of $275,560. In her most recent, the daughter of Bernardini finished seventh in the $100,000 Ginger Punch over the Gulfstream Park grass on June 6. Previously, she ran third in the seven furlong $100,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream Park on May 16. In her only other outing this year, she won the mile and an eighth $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct on January 19. Last year, she posted three wins and two seconds from six starts including a score in Grade III Comely Stakes. She has a career record of four wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts with earnings of $275,560.

“We like the mile and an eighth around two turns for her,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “She's shown that is what she likes. We're happy to get her back to what she's best suited for.”

Pletcher has also entered Repole Stable's Always Shopping. In her most recent, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Again finished fourth going a mile and an eighth on the grass in the Treasure Coast Stakes at Gulfstream Park on June 7. In her only other outing this year, the Kentucky-bred ran third in a one mile allowance at Gulfstream Park on April 18. Last year, she won a pair of stakes Aqueduct including the Grade II Gazelle Stakes before completing her 3-year-old campaign by running sixth in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico. She has a career record of two wins, two seconds and a third from eight starts with earnings of $261,840.

Pletcher is seeking his fifth Delaware Handicap victory, which would set the record for most wins by a trainer in the race. Pletcher won his first Delaware Handicap in 2001 with Irving's Baby; he followed with back-to-back victories with Fleet Indian in 2006 and Unbridled Belle in 2007, and his most recent was with Life at Ten in 2010. He is currently tied with Henry Clark, who won the race in in 1958 and 1959 with Endine and in 1969 and 1970 with Obeah.

The mare who is starting to get real good at the right time is Ten Strike Racing's Lucky Move. In her most recent, the daughter of Lookin at Lucky posted her first career stakes by notching a 1 ¼-length score in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on June 17. Previously, the New York-bred conditioned by Juan Carlos Guerrero ran third and fourth in a pair of Aqueduct New York state-bred allowances. In her only other outing this year, she finished second to Bellera in the Ladies Handicap. She has a career record of five wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 27 starts.

“She has been getting bigger and stronger,” said trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero. “We knew she was a bit of a longshot going into the Obeah, but she looked like a million dollars and when you watched her train, she stood apart from everybody in the way she was doing it. I really liked her chances in the Obeah, but I was not expecting that big of an effort. Since the Obeah, she has been doing great. We worked her the other day and she went so easy, I was afraid she went faster than we wanted (she breezed five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Parx on July 3). But, the rider barely even asked her and she came out of it alert and bouncing. It was like she barely did anything. So, she really could not be doing any better and we are excited about Saturday.”

$400,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap

For fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up

at a mile and an eighth

PP	HORSE	OWNER	TRAINER	JOCKEY	Wg	OD
1	Vexatious	Calumet Farm	Jack Sisterson	Miguel Mena	115	12-1
2	Dunbar Road	Peter Brant	Chad Brown	Irad Ortiz Jr.	123	6/5
3	Wicked Awesome	Warwick Stable	A. Ferris Allen	Horacio Karamanos	113	15-1
4	Bellera	Mathis, Madaket, Doheny	Todd Pletcher	Trevor McCarthy	118	7/2
5	Always Shopping	Repole Stable	Todd Pletcher	Carol Cedeno	119	5-1
6	Lucky Move	Ten Strike Racing	Juan Carlos Guerrero	Roberto Rosado	117	8-1
7	Saracosa	Chad Schumer	Cipriano Contreras	Martin Garcia	116	10-1
8	Over Thinking	G. Watts Humphrey	Victoria Oliver	Jaime Rodriguez	114	15-1

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Monomoy Girl’s Ruffian Start Featured On America’s Day At The Races

America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, returns this Thursday, July 9 on FOX Sports and MSG+ for wall-to-wall television coverage of closing weekend of the 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet.

The acclaimed national telecast airs Thursday through Sunday on FS1, FS2 and MSG+ for a combined 20 ½ hours of racing and analysis of the best in thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park, which will take place just before the New York circuit shifts to Saratoga Race Course for its annual 40-day summer meet at the Spa. Highlighting the weekend action from Belmont is the Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian on Saturday, July 11, featuring Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl, making her first graded race appearance since capturing the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November 2018.

Trained by Brad Cox, the talented 5-year-old Tapizar mare missed her entire 4-year-old season after a mild case of colic and an injury to her hamstring. She returned to action on May 16 with a 2 3/4-length win in an optional-claiming tilt contested on a sloppy Churchill Downs main track. Monomoy Girl's victory in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff capped an Eclipse Award-winning season, which included G1 victories in the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Acorn at Belmont Park and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Saturday's 42nd running of the Ruffian for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going one mile is named for the legendary filly of the mid-1970s and winner of 10 consecutive races, eight of them stakes. Foaled at Claiborne Farm, Ruffian was bred by Stuart S. Janney, Jr. and Barbara Phipps Janney, and trained by Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. Asked for his strategy when aboard the big black filly, Ruffian's jockey Jacinto Vasquez had a simple answer: “Ruffian sets her own pace and gets (to the lead) on her own,” he said.

Weekend stakes action from Belmont Park kicks off on Friday with the 6th running of the $80,000 Gold Fever for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt.

Sunday's 6th running of the $80,000 River Memories for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going 1 ½ miles on the turf will be the final stakes race of the 25-day Belmont spring-summer meet. Closing Day will feature a special post time of 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

This week's America's Day at the Races schedule:

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, July 9:
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Friday, July 10:
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Saturday. July 11:
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Sunday, July 12:
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (FS1)
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (FS2)
12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (MSG+)

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 40,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a number of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

America's Day at the Races is presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy, and Claiborne Farm. This weekend's broadcast team includes Greg Wolf, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Richard Migliore, Acacia Courtney and Jonathon Kinchen.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of the Belmont spring/summer meet available to customers across the United States. In addition to a host of weekly special offers, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 deposit match bonus to new members.

NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRA Bets App. Watch and wager on the best racing while earning points on every bet.

For further details on the new member bonus, visit NYRABets.com/#sign-up-bonus.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet continues through Sunday, July 12. Live racing is offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday and a special closing-day post time of 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course kicks off on Thursday, July 16 and will feature 71 stakes worth $14.45 million, encompassing 39 graded stakes and 18 Grade 1s. The 40-day Saratoga meet continues through Monday, September 7.

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Full Field Of 13 Chase Derby Points In Saturday’s Rescheduled Blue Grass Stakes

A full field of 13 horses has been entered for the 96th running of the $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on Keeneland's main track, rescheduled to this Saturday, July 11.

A major steppingstone for the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, the Toyota Blue Grass offers 170 points toward qualification to this year's Derby with 100 points going to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to third place and 10 points to fourth. The Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box.

This year's Toyota Blue Grass, which marks the 25th year the race has been sponsored by Toyota, will go as the ninth race on Saturday's 10-race program with a 5:30 p.m. ET post time. First post for the card that features six graded stakes is 1:05 p.m.

The major storyline in the Blue Grass belongs to sophomore filly Swiss Skydiver, winner of her last three starts and current leader on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks points leaderboard. Trainer Ken McPeek will saddle the daughter of Daredevil as just the second female to start in Keeneland's major Kentucky Derby prep since its inception in 1937.

Another accomplished runner in the field is Jackpot Farm's Basin. Winner of the Runhappy Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga and most recently second in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1), Basin ranks ninth on the Derby leaderboard with 50 points.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Basin will be ridden Saturday by Ricardo Santana Jr. and break from post position eight.

“He is fit, ready to go,” said Ryne Poncik of Jackpot Farm. “This nine weeks since the Arkansas Derby (G1) has really helped him. The Arkansas Derby really took a lot out of him trying to keep up with Charlatan all the way around there. So, on these nine weeks he got good weight and he's really looking good.

“It sounds like to me that Shivaree might go and Swiss (Skydiver) will go and then we'll go right with Swiss. Hopefully us and Swiss can get over before the turn and it looks like most everyone on the inside will be coming from far out. So it looks like we'll maybe be 3-wide if I had to guess but it looks like we'll be in the clear. We'll be forwardly placed for sure.”

Invading from California is Jim and Donna Daniell's Rushie. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Rushie finished third in last month's Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his stakes debut to gain 20 Derby points. Javier Castellano, who won last year's running on Vekoma, has the mount and will break from post position 10.

Also looking to add to his Derby points total is John Oxley's Enforceable. Winner of the Lecomte (G3) and runner-up in the Risen Star (G2), Enforceable is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Joel Rosario. Enforceable is 14th on the Derby leaderboard with 33 points.

Rosario is seeking his second Toyota Blue Grass victory to go with the triumph in 2011 on Brilliant Speed. Enforceable, third in last fall's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), will break from post 12.

“(The post is) not as important with him,” Casse said. “It's not going to affect us as much because we're not going to the lead. It actually could be to our benefit in that he tends to break a little slow. But if he happens to break a little better, it will let (jockey) Joel (Rosario) find his spot. When you're down inside and you break a little slow, you're at everyone's mercy because they come down on top of you. Plus it's 1 1/8 miles so we have a little more run into the first turn.”

Seeking his initial Derby points is Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector. Trained by Tom Drury, Art Collector enters Saturday's race off two allowance victories at Churchill Downs this year by a combined 9 ¾ lengths. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount and will break from post position three.

“I'd sure rather be in post three than 13,” Drury said. “He is doing good. He has had to earn his way into this spot. There was a question if he really wants to go two turns, but he checked that box and did it maybe with an exclamation point. He drew away at the end and had his ears up while galloping out afterwards. It is time to jump in to the deep end of the pool and see how he stacks up against this kind (of competition). He will ship from Skylight (training center in Goshen, Kentucky) the morning of the race.”

In addition to McPeek, who won the Toyota Blue Grass with Harlan's Holiday in 2002 and Java's War in 2013, three other trainers will try to add to their win totals in the race.

Nick Zito, whose Blue Grass victories came with Strike the Gold (1991), Halory Hunter (1998) and The Cliff's Edge (2004), will saddle Dream Walkin Farms' Hunt the Front. A maiden winner at Oaklawn, Hunt the Front will be ridden by Corey Lanerie and break from post 11.

Dale Romans, a two-time Blue Grass winner with Dullahan (2012) and Brody's Cause (2016), will send out graded stakes-placed Attachment Rate. Owned by Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister, Attachment Rate will be ridden by Luis Saez and break from post nine. Saez won the 2016 Blue Grass for Romans on Brody's Cause.

Bill Mott, who won the Toyota Blue Grass in 1984 with Taylor's Special, will send out LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing's maiden winner Tiesto. Flavien Prat has the mount and will break from post 13.

Three other riders with previous wins – John Velazquez, Rafael Bejarano and Jose Ortiz – will be seeking additional Toyota Blue Grass victories.

Velazquez, who rode Bandini in 2005 and Carpe Diem in 2015 to victory for Todd Pletcher, has the call on Jacks or Better Farm's Shivaree, who will break from the rail.

Bejarano, who won the Toyota Blue Grass in 2007 aboard Dominican, has the call on Partner Stable's Hard Lighting who will break from post six. Ortiz, who took the 2018 race on champion Good Magic, will be aboard Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez's Finnick the Fierce and break from post two.

The field for the Toyota Blue Grass, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Shivaree (Velazquez, 123 pounds), Finnick the Fierce (Ortiz, 123), Art Collector (Hernandez Jr., 123), Mr. Big News (Mitchell Murrill, 123), Man in the Can (Tyler Gaffalione, 123), Hard Lighting (Bejarano, 123), Swiss Skydiver (Smith, 118), Basin (Santana Jr., 123), Attachment Rate (Saez, 123), Rushie (Castellano, 123), Hunt the Front (Lanerie, 123), Enforceable (Rosario, 123), Tiesto (Prat, 123).

TOYOTA BLUE GRASS POST POSITION DRAW QUOTES

Bret Calhoun, trainer of Mr. Big News (post 4; Mitchell Murrill to ride)

“That's probably a really good draw for us. You don't have to worry about trying to get over. We're already somewhat in a ground-saving position but we're not on the fence, which I didn't want to be. It's probably ideal. If they had let me just the pluck the number out on my own I probably would have picked somewhere around 6 or so. We're not going to be up in the mix early, we're going to be back off the pace so we should be in a good spot.”

On Swiss Skydiver impacting the pace scenario

“I think so, I think the more speed in there, the better it is for us and obviously she has been running up front. There are 2-3 other horses in there who have been running up on the pace so that's all beneficial for us.”

“A lot of people aren't going to believe in him, they think that (win in the April 11 Oaklawn Stakes) was basically a fluke. So yeah, he's got to prove it to everybody. You know, we're seeing him in the mornings, he's proven to us in the afternoons, this is another step forward, and he's a really royal-bred horse and I think he's going to prove himself.”

Ron Moquett, trainer of Man in the Can (post 5; Tyler Gaffalione to ride)

“He has enough tactical speed, so we can be where we need to be (from post five). We'll let the rider do what he is supposed to do and that is make good decisions. He is coming into this race very good. He's been at Keeneland and has worked over the track. The way he has been developing, the Blue Grass is a great test to see how good he is. His races indicate that he is willing to try against better competition.”

Ralph Nicks, trainer of Shivaree (post 1; John Velazquez to ride)

“He will probably be forced to go on with the pace a little bit from the one post, but it is what it is. He arrived at Keeneland Wednesday morning and he made the trip fine. (We picked the Blue Grass) because of the timing and it is easy to get there. Plus there are some big races at Keeneland this fall. This will give him a trip over the track and see how he does. It just made sense. It felt like a good spot.”

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Dubawi’s Book One Sensation Darain a New Rising Star At Newbury

It may have taken time to see him in action, but Qatar Racing and Watership Down Stud’s 3.5million gns 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made the wait worthwhile with a command performance to earn TDN Rising Star status on his debut on Wednesday’s evening card at Newbury. Sent off the 2-1 favourite for division two of the 10-furlong Oakley Coachbuilders Super Sport Novice S., the bay was allowed to bowl along on the front end by Oisin Murphy and ambled along with Winter Reprise (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). Asked to step it up approaching two out, the John Gosden-trained son of Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) powered clear to record a 4 3/4-length success as Godolphin’s newcomer Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) grabbed second by half a length from Winter Reprise. “We didn’t go very fast early as they were inexperienced horses and we really got racing from the bottom of the straight,” Murphy said. “Darain went through the gears well and galloped right to the line. I’m pleased with him, he has an exciting future.”

Although he is a full-brother to 2018’s juvenile sensation Too Darn Hot (GB), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eng, G1SW-Fr, MG1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $1,651,829, Darain is more in the mould of his dam who was also labelled a TDN Rising Star prior to recording three successes at the highest level over 10 and 12 furlongs. Top-class racemare and now broodmare supreme, she has thrown four black-type performers with the smart multiple group-placed colt De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB})–now a resident sire at Haras du Mezeray–followed by the trio of Dubawis So Mi Dar (GB), Lah Ti Dar (GB) and the aforementioned Too Darn Hot. So Mi Dar was like her dam successful in the G3 Musidora S. before finishing third in the G1 Prix de l’Opera, GSW-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $242,742, while Lah Ti Dar took the G2 Middleton S. and stayed sufficiently to be runner-up in the G1 St Leger, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $637,568.

Darain has everything going for him to become a leading light, with other significant presences under the G1 Prix Vermeille-winning second dam Darara (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}) including the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), the G1 Ranvet S. winner Darazari (Ire) and his Hong Kong champion full-brother Diaghilev (Ire). Also related to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning champion and leading sire Darshaan (GB) and G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Hong Kong Vase scorer Daliapour (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), Dar Re Mi has 2-year-old and yearling full-sisters to Darain to follow.

7th-Newbury, £5,400, Novice, 7-8, 3yo, 10fT, 2:11.87, g/s.
DARAIN (GB), c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Dar Re Mi (GB) (Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, G1SW-Ire, UAE & Eng, GSW & G1SP-Fr, GISP-US, $4,359,112), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Darara (Ire), by Top Ville (Ire)
3rd Dam: Delsy (Fr), by Abdos (Fr)
Sales history: 3,500,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,381.
O-Qatar Racing Ltd and Watership Down Stud; B-Watership Down Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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