Pick 4 of the Week: Delaware Park Saturday

A trio of competitive black-type races are among the closing four contests at Delaware Park on Saturday. 

Race 7 Wager

• $1 Pick 4: 2,3,5 with 3,6,9 with 7 with 2,4,9 ($27)

Race 7 – Cape Henlopen S. 

One short of a dozen are signed on to go 1 1/2 miles on the lawn in a deep opening leg of the play. Chilean import #3 Kay Army (5-2) is a six-time Group 1 hero who didn’t run poorly in his initial try in the states off the long absence for conditioner Bill Mott. I expect the five-year-old chestnut to improve second time off the pine with Junior Alvarado in the stirrups. 

2024 Kent S. winner #5 Desvio (8-1) was a rallying third in the Dinner Party S. (G2) at Pimlico last time in what was a fine prep for this one. Yoshida gelding likes the course and could be dangerous at a price. Multiple Grade 2 star #2 Master Piece (7-2) will surely improve in his second run off the layoff and also gets Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the stirrups. 

Race 8 – Delaware Derby

A total of 11 sophomores will vie in the $200,000 dirt tussle. The Brad Cox-trained #3 Admiral Dennis (3-1) will be a popular single for many, and deservedly so, after missing by just three lengths in the Blue Grass S. (G1) in his most recent appearance. The chestnut son of Constitution has improved his Brisnet Speed number in a trio of races in succession and wouldn’t be a surprise beneath Luan Machado. 

#6 Kentucky Outlaw (6-1) is three-for-four in his lifetime and was a smart winner of the Long Branch S. last time out for Dunn. The speedy Outwork colt will be forcing the action from the break under Paco Lopez. 2024 Laurel Futurity victor #9 Pascaline (10-1) will race with blinkers on for the initial time and is a very generous price on the morning line for Arnaud Delacour. 

Race 9 – Delaware Oaks (G3)

The 1 1/16-mile affair on the dirt attracted the top-three finishers of the recent Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2), but I’ll look elsewhere and single Virginia Oaks heroine #7 Fondly (7-2) for Graham Motion and Irad Ortiz, Jr. The daughter of Upstart didn’t fire late in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs last time, but she will benefit from the run and be a major threat in this spot. 

Race 10 – Maiden Special Weight

The closing leg of the sequence is for the boys on the lawn with a cast of 11 set to go postward. #4 Richard Feynman (3-1) is the one to beat for Graham Motion with Irad riding. Into Mischief gelding was a solid third two back in his lone try on U. S. turf and will be tough with improvement off of that one. 

Michael Stidham’s #2 Divino (4-1) and first-time starter #9 Operation Varsity (8-1) will also make the ticket.