Harness Racing: Daley has high hopes for All Laid Out in the Matron at Dover Downs

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All Laid Out picked up his only stakes win in the Bluegrass at The Red Mile.

Trainer Noel Daley knows what it takes to win top trotting stakes. Last year his Broad Bahn won the Hambletonian. This year his fortunes have not gone as well, but he remains quite optimistic. Some of the reason behind his attitude is All Laid Out, a “tiny” son of Yankee Glide with a big motor. All Laid Out, the 5-2 second morning line choice, is one of just five colts entered in Sunday’s $159,675 Matron Stakes for juvenile colts at Dover Downs.

All Laid Out was plucked from last year’s Lexington Selected auction for just $32,000 and to date has earned $120,173 for owner Daley.

“There wasn’t much to him, but he showed good in the video,” said Daley about his first interaction with the colt as a yearling.

This year he laid out his own strategy, keeping the colt lightly staked and avoided the big dances. What that produced was a successful stint in the Kindergarten Series that culminated in a second place finish in the $206,000 final at Vernon Downs on October 26.

Daley was most impressed with All Laid Out when the colt raced in Kentucky. During the second week of Grand Circuit action, All Laid Out made a break before the start that compromised his chances. He rallied to finish fourth, but Daley and company noticed something that didn’t show up on the charts.

“He was way back off the gate at the start. We clocked his individual mile in 1:53 and change,” said Daley of the effort.

But last week in the Matron preview, All Laid Out was far from perfect. He finished a well-beaten fourth in the short field, unable to get close to the top three finishers. “The track was terrible,” said Daley. “He did all he could (driver James Rattray) to keep him on gait.”

Daley thought that the track might not have been set up right as yet since Dover was first returning from a long hiatus. While he expects the Dover track condition to improve this week, he’s not taking chances.

“We’ve changed his shoes and he should be much better. I think he has the talent to win it,” said Daley.

All Laid Out’s size probably allowed Daley to purchase him, this year a full brother to All Laid Out sold in Lexington and commanded a price of $140,000.

“I’m sure that had a lot to do with his (All Laid Out’s) success and the fact that the colt was much bigger,” Daley said.

Sunday’s race is as wide-open as they come. The first on the 15-race stakes-filled program with a post time of 5:30 p.m. could go to any of the entries. Caveat Emptor, the 2-1 morning line favorite, is the most interesting of the contenders. Tim Tetrick will get behind the colt from the first crop of Deweycheatumnhowe, who has been a consistent check-getter all season long for trainer Ray Schnittker. He finished fourth in the Breeders Crown to the unbeaten Wheeling N Dealin. Last week Caveat Emptor finished third behind Sand Royal Blu in the Matron Preview. He drew post five on Sunday

Sand Royal Blu, an Indiana-bred, cut the mile and scored in 1:57 in last week’s $53,225 preview. Sent off as a 43-1 shot in the field of six, the Jailhouse Jesse-sired homebred won for the third time in seven seasonal starts. Dave Miller will once again be in the bike behind him from post four. Sand Royal Blu is a half-brother to last year’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final champion Sand Violent Blu.

John Campbell will guide San Donato (post 3) for his brother-trainer Jim Campbell. The son of Donato Hanover has the most experience of the five freshmen with 14 starts heading into Sunday’s contest. He finished second to Sand Royal Blu in last week’s preview.

Daley revealed that Broad Bahn, his 2011 Hambletonian winner, jogged for the first time on Tuesday in his return to the racetrack after a brief stallion career.

“I’m not in any hurry,” said Daley of his plans for Broad Bahn. “He’s a massive horse. He looks great, not too heavy. Hopefully he’ll resurface in April or May.”