Delaware Park: Sister Earth sticks to dirt for Monday allowance

Throughout her nine-race career, which began this past February, the 3-year-old filly Sister Earth has been entered to run on turf every time. But following back-to-back daylight victories in routes switched to the main track, Sister Earth must have convinced trainer Leigh Delacour that she may be even better on dirt.

Sister Earth remains on dirt in search of her third straight victory in the second of two first-level allowance events on Monday’s card at Delaware Park. She is part of an eight-horse field of fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles in an event that is also open to $20,000 claimers.

It took Sister Earth five tries and a drop into maiden claiming company to finally secure her first win, which came in a one-mile turf race on June 30. No better than fourth in two subsequent starts on grass, both as the favorite, Sister Earth responded to a surface switch when she romped by 5 1/2 lengths against conditioned $25,000 claimers on Sept. 6. She came back two weeks later to win again by 1 1/4 lengths in a $30,000 starter allowance.

Both of those wins came going a mile over a wet-fast track. She may get similar track conditions on Monday, when the forecast for the Wilmington area calls for scattered thunderstorms.

The two major threats to Sister Earth appear to be Lucky Lady Lawyer and Flying Princess.

Lucky Lady Lawyer has been third and then second in her two tries against first-level optional claimers, beaten 4 1/2 lengths each time. Her trainer, Mac Robertson, is 8 for 23 (35 percent) with route runners who finished in the money last time out returning in an allowance within 30 days.

Flying Princess won her maiden in her second career start while racing on Lasix for the first time. From a small sampling, New York-based trainer Shug McGaughey is 2 for 5 with last-out maiden winners attempting a route for the first time.

◗ In race 5, a first-level allowance scheduled for a mile on turf, Shimmy Tinjo and School House clash again. They were separated by a head as the one-two finishers in a $25,000 starter allowance three weeks ago, also at a mile on turf.

The field, which has seven entered for grass and three others for the main track only, also includes Monmouth shipper No Play. He returns to allowance company, where he was no factor in two previous tries, following a sharp win against $35,000 claimers on Sept. 16.