BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Stonehedge LLC homebred Dean Delivers, fresh off an eight-length domination of the $104,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park on May 27, takes his momentum to Delaware Park Saturday for the $125,000 Alapocas Run. The 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding will be among nine 3-year-olds and older who will do battle over six furlongs.
This will be only the third time in 23 career starts that Dean Delivers has left his native Sunshine state. Last year, he traveled to Saratoga in July to finish third in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap behind juggernauts Elite Power and Gunite.
Dean Delivers makes his second start for trainer Edward T. Allard after two difficult races earlier this year. He was fifth after a bumpy trip in the $129,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint won by Run Classic going six furlongs on Feb. 24 and and was a disappointing fourth at 6-5 odds in the $100,000 NYRA Bets Sprint against fellow Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24.
By Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze out of Slick and True, by Yes It’s True, Dean Delivers has won six times in his career, including the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream last year. He also has eight seconds and two thirds with earnings of $562,660.
Dean Delivers is 4-1 on the morning line and will break from post seven with jockey Jamie Rodriguez.
Super Chow appears to be the one to beat having won three of four starts this year, all in graded stakes, for trainer Jorge Delgado and owner Lea Farms LLC.
His first three starts came at Aqueduct beginning with a four-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Grade 3 Toboggan over a muddy seven furlongs on Feb. 3. He then won the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap carrying the top weight of 124 pounds over a sloppy six furlongs on March 2 before finishing third in the Grade 2 Carter won by Post Time on April 6.
The 4-year-old son of Lord Nelson most recently won the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint by nearly two lengths going six furlongs on a muddy Pimlico main track on May 18.
Super Chow has won nine with four seconds and five thirds in 19 lifetime starts with earnings of $782,900. Lea Farms purchased him for $75,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale.
Super Chow is the 5-2 morning line favorite and will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post five.
The homefield advantage goes to Sir Wellington, who has won three of five starts at Delaware Park including a three-a-quarter-length score against allowance horses going six furlongs there on May 25. In one start since, the 6-year-old McLean Robertson trainee was third in a six-furlong allowance won by Rominski at Laurel Park on June 16.
Sir Wellington is 8-1 on the morning line and has post eight. Kevin Gomez will ride for owner Xtreme Racing Stables LLC.
Others entered are Prince of Jericho with jockey Sheldon Russell, Ninetypercentmaddie will have Abner Adorno riding, O’Conner Sunset and rider Carol Cendeno, Seven’s Eleven with Angel Cruz up, Jose Ortiz rides American Monarch and Gordian Knot has Mychel Sanchez taking the call.