After near miss, Delta Prince looks to reign in Woodbine Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Delta Prince will look to record his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday’s $800,000 Woodbine Mile for 3-year-olds and up on the E.P. Taylor turf course. The Woodbine Mile offers a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

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Delta Prince, a half-brother to champion Royal Delta, nearly caught Voodoo Song in the final strides last out in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 11. Delta Prince broke slowly and rallied from well back to miss by a neck on “good” turf.

“I thought he ran really well,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “The course was a lot softer than he likes and he broke real flat-footed or wouldn’t have been that far out of it. He had to make a big, long run, and that’s hard on soft turf.”

Delta Prince won his seasonal debut two starts back on this turf course in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes on the Queen’s Plate undercard on June 30. Delta Prince settled in midpack before rallying by Shakhimat for a 1 3/4-length victory.

Jerkens said the 5-year-old has been in top form since making his seasonal debut.

“Since he’s come back, so far, he’s the best he’s ever been for a long time,” he said.

Key Contenders

Delta Prince, by Street Cry
Last 3 Beyers: 104-101-99

◗ Delta Prince began his career with two starts on dirt but has done his best running on grass.

“The first time he ran on turf, he ran off the screen,” Jerkens said. “I’ve kept him on turf ever since.”

Oscar Performance, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: NA-104-99

◗ He was pulled up in the stretch and vanned off in his most recent start, the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 11, but has recorded three breezes since then.

◗ He’s won both of his starts at a mile on turf, including the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Two starts back, he won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lord Glitters, by Whipper
Last 3 Beyers: NA-NA-NA

◗ Lord Glitters will be making his North American debut following a win in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York on Aug. 25. He’ll add Lasix for this start and gets a significant break in weight. He’ll carry 121 pounds after having carried more than 130 pounds in England in his last two starts.

Divisidero, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-98

◗ He finished third behind Voodoo Song and Delta Prince in the Fourstardave last out.

◗ He was transferred from Buff Bradley to trainer Kelly Rubley for the 2018 season and got his first win of the campaign in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July 7.

Mr Havercamp, by Court Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 98-98-95

◗ He improved his record on the Woodbine turf course to four wins from as many starts and got his first graded stakes win in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes over seven furlongs on Aug. 25. Prior to that, he was fourth, beaten two lengths by Voodoo Song, in the Forbidden Apple at Belmont Park on July 14.

Stormy Antarctic
Last 3 Beyers: NA-NA-NA

◗ Enters off a close third-place finish in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Aug. 25. He’s won a pair of stakes at a mile in Europe this season: a Group 3 event in France and a Group 2 race in Germany.

Good Samaritan, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 85-96-96

◗ He’ll return to turf for the first time since running fourth the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July 2017. He most recently was fifth in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 4. He won the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on this turf course as a 2-year-old in 2016.