3/10 (GP): Gulfstream Park H. (G2), Swale S. (G3)
 

8th (4:35) Gulfstream Park H. (G2)

1 Mile | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Mucho Macho Man Dominguez R A 120 L
2 Tackleberry Maragh R 119 L
3 Cajun Breeze Leyva J C 114 L
4 Soaring Stocks Bravo J 116 L
5 Clean Shot Saez L 111 L
6 Jackson Bend Velazquez J R 122 L



10th (5:35) Swale S. (G3)

7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Quick Wit Solis A 115 L
2 Trinniberg Martinez W 115 Blk-Off L
3 Silver Menace Dominguez R A 117 L
4 Motor City Prado E S 121 L
5 Hello Prince Garcia Jose A 121 L
6 Bahamian Squall Saez L 115 L
7 Ever So Lucky Bravo J 115 L
8 Musical Flair Leyva J C 121 L
9 Seve Desormeaux K J 115 L
10 Good Morning Diva Maragh R 115 L

where is Thunder Mocassin?

I wonder if he hasn't suddenly become a two-turn horse now that Algorithms has fallen by the wayside and Discreet Dancer failed in the Fountain Of Youth.

Pletcher said not ready will go in the Bayshore on 4/7

Gulfstream Handicap looks like a good one....

The return of Tackleberry!

Major props to anyone who can name the last 2-year-old first-time-starter Sheppard has won a MSW race with before Ever So Lucky.

I know you're going to have to go back at least six years to find it.

Forever Together.

How could I possibly forget that.

Informed Decision. Five years.

Yep.

Delaware Park in 2006 -- and she was the last one.

Although, Informed Decision did win her debut in a MSW race at Gulfstream in early Jan of her 3yo season ... at better than 20/1 odds no less.

I just saw the 2YO part.

Informed Decision was opening day at Gulfstream in 2007.

Yep. When he wins with a debuter they typically turn out to be good. I think Storm Cat lost his debut..but I'd need to pull his form to remember.

A lot of good horses have debuted at Delaware Park over the last eight years now that I think about it.

Barbaro, Afleet Alex, Havre De Grace, Bellamy Road, Hard Spun, Eight Belles.

I think it was at Saratoga...and maybe he was 3rd. I'm almost sure he broke his maiden, probably 2nd start, at Saratoga.

I loved Storm Cat when he was racing.

He did and won 10 days later.

Union Rags. Grace Hall.

Mani Bhavan! :D

Soto and High Limit.

Storm Cat's form going into the BC Juvenile.

R Heat Lightning

Proud Spell and Tapit as well...both debut winners at Delaware.

According to this link ... http://www.delpark.com/racing_maidenwins.php

"Since 2002, an amazing 27 Delaware Park maiden winners have gone on to win Graded stakes victories"

They include:

Those Fappiano's really had his number when he was a 2yo.

He was bred by WT Young Storage INC.

Money owns this town...do doo do.

I was referring to his two losses (not counting the DQ) as a two year old to two pretty nice sons of the first crop sire, Fappiano.

Mucho Macho Man 102

Trinniberg 99

I was encouraged by Tackleberry. Mucho Macho isnt much if he couldn't crush Tackleberry off the bench.

When reading this, why do I get the feeling like I'm being drawn and quartered?

He is a decent horse by today's standards. Fights back, game etc. I think they just pressed too much last year and he fell apart. He can win a few this year. Also agree on Mucho Macho Man... Felt like he was supposed to win by a lot more.

I thought he won well within himself. The jock seemed to want to hand ride him to the wire, but hedged his bets and gave him a nice windmill smack inside the 1/16th pole.

This is a colt that was a bridesmaid at 2 and a bridesmaid at 3. With 3 straight wins now, I think his reputation has gotten ahead of his actual performance. Maybe it was Ron The Greek's manhandling of Setsuko and Uh Oh Bango last weekend.

If the Carter runs to form and To Honor And Serve returns in good order, this year's Met Mile could be nice. Kind of hope Jackson Bend makes it there, too. Doesn't seem like the race unfolded to his liking today. A big field and a contested pace could shake things up a bit.

Didn't win by enough? Is this like a fight where a boxer is supposed to dispatch a foe in three rounds but it takes five? Sprinters off the shelf regularly ready run 'A' races and you could see by Tackleberry's Calder work that he was likely to fire. Agree with Rollo that a race like this isn't inspiring given the lack of an authentic pace scenario. Carter/Met is shaping up great though. Romans adding Shackleford to mix in addition to the Tom Foolers, Honor/Serve, et al..

I don't buy into horses who win "within themselves" unless there's really strong visual support. The three rivals behind him picked up a few pieces late yesterday and Ramon gave him plenty of steady reminders. He ran his race. All four of Mucho Macho Man's wins were him sitting second or so right off the speed, just like yesterday. He's obviously a nice horse and I could be wrong, but I think there are others out there who end-up shining in the end.

It was a workmanlike win, but Mucho Macho Man has never been the flashy type that will run away and hide from horses. The biggest question for him, at this point, is that he will have a lengthy campaign, and isn't exactly in the hands of a highly proficient trainer.

Tackleberry was sharp for his return. I don't think sharp means ready to fire his very best off the bench. He had a solid campaign in '11 and its good to see he still has something left. My take on Jaskson Bend was that he needs to be closer to the pace unless there is a lot more pace in the race. Isn't Tackleberry going to be pointed for 9f races?

Anyone have any insight on why Caleb's Posse didn't go in GP Hcp? The Tom Fool at 6 furlongs on Aqu Inner was about as bad a spot as I could think for him.

“It’s perfect timing," said Von Hemel. “The (Tom Fool) is situated where the Carter could remain our main goal, and this race fits. It would have been better if the (Tom Fool) was on the main track, but I suppose this will serve as prep for the process of getting to New York. We’ll go back home after this race.”

They are planning attacks on the G1 Carter & G1 Met and starting the season at a mile made little sense. Von Hemel did say when he picked the Tom Fool he hadn't expected the depth that it assembled. But further, he and Mr. McNeil have already shown that winning little battles isn't as important as the bigger wars.

The distance progression was something they sought for sure, as was being in NY. Incidentally, the race set up perfectly for him, and he missed by a narrow margin. It appeared to be every bit of the prep they sought.

You think?

I don't know, he missed by what a head and got a sharp pace to run at. Look what happened to Jackson Bend yesterday.

I would think bare minimum he needs 6.5 and most likely 7.

I hear you, and it's possible 6 isn't his best. But he just ran a pretty big fig going 6 against a horse who is very, very good on the inner.

I think he's pretty good anywhere from 6 to a mile depending on what kind of pace he gets in front of him.