Abiding Star seeks fifth straight in Parx Derby
These are not easy times at Parx Racing, where an equine herpesvirus quarantine has been in effect since April 1. But Parx will put on its best card so far this year Saturday, when it runs a trio of $100,000 stakes, the Parx Derby, Parx Oaks, and My Juliet.
There was speculation that the stakes could be canceled or pushed back until after the quarantine is lifted, but Sam Elliott, the track’s director of racing, decided to move forward as long as reasonable fields could be assembled.
“People were asking me if we were going to cancel the stakes, but to me, you can’t penalize the guys that are here and willing to run,” Elliott said.
In addition to the stakes, the 10-race card includes four allowance or optional-claiming races. Because of the quarantine, the races are comprised mostly of horses based at Parx since shippers will have to stay at the track until the quarantine is over, which at the earliest will be May 19.
Abiding Star, a winner of four races in a row, figures as a heavy favorite in the Parx Derby. Owner Gil Campbell and trainer Ned Allard supplemented Abiding Star to the Triple Crown for $6,000 in March with the plan of running in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park, a Win and You’re In race for the Preakness. But then the quarantine began, and Abiding Star could not leave the grounds.
Instead, Allard ran Abiding Star in a third-level optional claimer at Parx against older horses. He galloped in the slop to win by 8 3/4 lengths.
Abiding Star’s win streak began in January when Allard dropped him into a $40,000 maiden claimer. He came out of that two-length win to take a first-level allowance at Parx and the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel.
“His form pretty much speaks for itself,” Allard said. “Ever since breaking his maiden, he’s gotten a little bit better with each start. He probably hasn’t faced any world beaters yet, but I thought his race against older horses was quite impressive.”
The undefeated Eighth Wonder should be favored in the Parx Oaks, which, like the Parx Derby, will be run at a mile and 70 yards.
Eighth Wonder wintered in South Carolina before gearing up for her 3-year-old season. Trainer Dee Curry had hoped to run Eighth Wonder in a one-turn prep race prior to the Parx Oaks but wasn’t able to after the Parx track was closed for training longer than expected over the winter and then the quarantine was put into place.
At 2, Eighth Wonder scored front-running wins in a maiden race, an allowance, and the Donna Freyer, a restricted stakes. Saturday’s race will be Eighth Wonder’s first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, and Curry is concerned about whether she will relax during the early going.
“This being her first time back, I know she’s going to be sharp,” Curry said.
The My Juliet, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, drew a competitive field of 11 that includes a three-horse entry trained by Mertkan Kantarmaci and a two-horse Kathleen DeMasi entry.
The favorites look to be Four Inch Heels, Disco Chick, and Hey Kiddo.
Four Inch Heels has won five races in a row but will be making her first start since December. John Servis claimed her out of a win for $25,000 in September and has since won three allowance or optional claimers and a $25,000 starter allowance with her.
Disco Chick is in the best form of her career for trainer Mario Serey Jr. She has finished second to the now-retired Lady Sabelia in a pair of Laurel stakes in her last two starts. Prior to that, she won a third-level optional claimer at Parx.
Hey Kiddo will be making her first start since November for trainer Ramon Preciado but was highly impressive in winning the $120,000 Roamin Rachel at Parx in October. She enters off a pair of five-furlong bullet works.