Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Main Event will be placed closer to the pace in Kent
Main Event is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3 Kent for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/8 miles on turf at Delaware Park. The Kent is one of three stakes anchoring the Delaware Oaks undercard along with the $100,000 Alapocas Run for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs and the Christiana for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
A gate-to-wire winner of Gulfstream’s Cutler Bay on April 2, Main Event subsequently finished ninth of 10 in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs. Main Event attempted to rally from off the pace in the American Turf.
“The course wasn’t kind to speed that week, there was a lot of give in the course, and we probably over-adjusted our strategy,” trainer George Weaver said. “We were concerned that you didn’t want to be on the front end or anywhere near it. I don’t think he cared for the turf course.”
Weaver intends to be more aggressive with Main Event.
“We’re not going to be a deep closer no matter how he breaks,” he said.
Tommy Bee, thrice stakesplaced this year for trainer Brad Cox, enters off a runnerup effort in the Caesars on May 18 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
A son of Medaglia d’Oro, Tommy Bee graduated in a $50,000 maiden-claimer at Belmont last year. Cox didn’t think the colt was meant to be an early type and is excited to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles, the distance of Tommy Bee’s nonwinner-of-three lifetime allowance win on April 17 at Keeneland.
As of Thursday morning, there was a 60 percent chance of rain for Saturday, and the potential for precipitation wouldn’t bother Wow Whata Summer one bit. Last month, the Summer Front gelding pulled off an 83-1 shocker in the Grade 2 Penn Mile, contested over boggy turf.
“Last year, I really liked this horse,” trainer Chuck Lawrence said after the Penn Mile. “He showed me so much talent in the mornings, but in the afternoon when the jockey would switch leads in the lane and ask him to go, he would go sideways. Finally, we decided to geld him, and it seems like the right decision.”
Trainer Christophe Clement has won the Kent twice in the last five years. He trains Elizar, a maiden winner last fall over the all-weather course at Chantilly. A subsequent private purchase, Elizar finished last of six in his North American debut, Belmont’s Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 4. He broke slowly in that race and then was wired by favored Emmanuel.
“I was very disappointed,” Clement said. “He’s trained well since. He must prove himself a little bit.”
Speaking Scout, Xy Time, Uncle Irish, and King of Hollywood also entered. Rod Two Rod goes main track only.
Alapocas Run Stakes
Where she told me togo is one of the more consistent sprinters in the Mid-Atlantic region. Trained by Brittany Russell, the 7-year-old has won 15 of 34 starts and looks to capture the Alapocas Run for the second consecutive year.
Russell has nursed Where she told me togo through myriad foot issues, and the gelding has responded with four wins from his last five races. Most recently, he won a conditioned allowance with a $50,000 claiming option on April 29 at Laurel.
“I don’t train on this horse very hard, so sometimes I question if I’m doing enough with him,” Russell said. “He’s a sprinter and an old, class act, so at this stage of the game, I just need to stay out of his way and keep him happy.”
Eight-year-old Drafted is $807 shy of reaching $1 million in career earnings. The gray gelding, a one-run closer, won the Grade 3 Toboggan on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct, rallied to take Belmont’s Grade 3 Runhappy on May 14, and recently kicked down eight others in Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector on June 4.
“For whatever reason, he just needs to be left alone and get his rhythm,” trainer David Duggan said. “He’s at his right punching weight right now, he just needs pace.”
Also bringing strong credentials are 20-time winner Greeley and Ben; Full Authority, a troubled fifth in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint on May 21 at Pimlico; Grade 3 winner Hopeful Treasure; Grade 3-placed Sir Alfred James; Grade 1-placed Borracho; and multiple stakes winner No Cents. Defend was cross-entered at Laurel on Saturday.
Christiana Stakes
European imports Parnac and Gizala bring international flavor to the Christiana Stakes.
Parnac won both starts last fall in Germany, was privately purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable, and transferred to Clement.
“She was trained in France and won stakes in Germany,” Clement said. “She belonged to a very well-known owner in Europe” – Jean-Pierre Dubois – “who recommended the filly to me. I’m excited to see her run.”
Gizala, a winner over the allweather course at Chantilly earlier this year, was crossentered at Woodbine, but trainer Graham Motion confirmed that she will run here.
“I think she’s probably going to appreciate going farther than this,” Motion admitted. “This is a good spot to get her started.”
Motion also entered Saucy Lady T and Sparkle Blue.
Saucy Lady T was Grade 1-placed on dirt last year and was purchased for $425,000 by Gray Broad at Keeneland January.
“This is part of the reason why they bought her, to try her on the grass,” Motion said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she steps up on the grass.
Sparkle Blue makes her first start since the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante on Nov. 27 at Del Mar.
“Nothing physical,” Motion remarked about the layoff. “She just wasn’t doing very well mentally and was quite difficult for Jose [Ortiz] to ride that day. She’s come to hand quicker than I thought she would.”
Other logical contenders include the Chad Brown trainee Lay the Groundwork and the Clement-trained Shad Nation.