BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred marathoner Lord Eddard Stark takes his endurance northwards to Delaware Park Saturday for the $200,000 Cape Henlopen for 3-year-olds and older going a mile-and-a-half on the turf. The Joe Orseno trainee will be ridden from post 11 in the field of 13.
A surprise winner of the H. Allen Jerkens Handicap at odds of 60-1 on Dec. 7 at Gulfstream Park, Lord Eddard Stark has been unable to duplicate that effort in two starts since. He stepped up in class in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight going a mile-and-a-half on the turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 25, finishing seventh but less than three lengths behind winner Dashman.
In his next race against fellow Florida-breds on Florida Cup Day on March 30 at Tampa Bay Downs, he was unable to fully utilize his stamina in the nine-furlong ESMARK Turf Classic, finishing seventh behind winner Crystal Quest.
Lord Eddard Stark is owned by John Rowe and was bred in Florida by his father, Michael John Rowe, both of Gainesville. The 7-year-old gelding is by He’s Had Enough out of Rough Winter, by Macho Uno and has five wins, four seconds and five thirds in 30 starts with earnings of $235,149.
Jose Batista will ride Lord Eddard Stark for the first time.
Only three other entrants have won at distances of at least 12 furlongs including Kay Army (Chi), who was undefeated in 10 starts in his native Chile including winning at a mile-and-a-half in the US$110,100 El Derby (G1-Chi) in March of last year at Valparaiso Racecourse. In one start in the United States, the Bill Mott-trained 5-year-old was second to Deterministic in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy going nine furlongs on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 3.
Kay Army is by Katamai (Chi) out of Soviet Army (Arg), by Pure Prize and has earned $445,708 in his 11 career starts.
Kay Army will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post eight.
Starting Over produced his marathon victory in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida going a mile-and-three-eighths on the grass at Gulfstream in March of last year. Trained by Brittany Russell, the son of Liam’s Map has two off the board finishes since, including a 12th in the Grade 2 Elkhorn going a mile-and-a-half on the grass at Keeneland on April 19.
Julio Hernandez will ride Starting Over from post four.
Other contenders include Master Piece (Chi) and jockey Eric Cancel, Jorge Ruiz rides Harrow, Summer Cause has Jaime Rodriguez, no rider has yet been named on Double Your Money, Sir London will have Kevin Gomez in the saddle, Cyber Ninja will carry Forest Boyce, Jose Lexcano will guide Dripping Gold, Copper Tax has rider J.G. Torrealba and Il Siciliano will have Martin Chuan up.
Return to the May 28 issue of Wire to Wire
