BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred marathoner Lord Eddard Stark takes his endurance north to Delaware Park Saturday for the $200,000 Cape Henlopen for 3-year-olds and older, originally set for May 31 but rescheduled for Saturday. The Joe Orseno-trained Lord Eddard Stark has post seven in the mile-and-a-half contest on the turf.

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 grass 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.

Jaime Rodriguez will ride Lord Eddard Stark for the first time and they are 15-1 on the morning line.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is Kay Army (Chi), who was undefeated in 10 starts in his native Chile including a victory in the US$110,100 El Derby (G1-Chi) at a mile-and-a-half on the grass at Valparaiso Racecourse in March of last year. 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 three.

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.

Jevian Toledo will ride Starting Over from post eight and they are 8-1 in the program.

Other contenders include Vote No with Paco Lopez named to ride, Master Piece (Chi) and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., Dripping Gold with Jose Lezcano in the irons, Desvio will have Wesley Hamilton up, Mychel Sanchez takes the call on Harrow, Martin Chuan guides Il Siciliano, Cyber Ninja with jockey Forest Boyce and Worthington will have Carol Cedeno up.

Return to the June 13 issue of Wire to Wire