Barbadian Runner looks to rebound with better trip in Battery Park
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Barbadian Runner has not had many chances to run at Delaware Park in a bustling career, but the track will provide the perfect chance for the 4-year-old gelding to bounce back in the $200,000 Battery Park Stakes on Saturday.
After winning the $125,000 Deputed Testamony at Laurel Park and just missing in the $100,000 Yorktown at Colonial Downs, trainer Henry Walters finally decided to give the seven-time stakes winner a bigger chance in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic last month. He suffered from a poor trip and only made up modest ground for fifth.
“He’s coming into this race good and fully recovered from the Charles Town race, where he bumped around a little bit and lost his shoe, got caught up in behind a little bit,” Walters said. “He’s recovered well and ready to go.”
In two career starts at Delaware, Barbadian Runner has finished second twice, including the $200,000 Delaware Derby last year. That was one of his first starts around two turns, and he has since won 4 of 6 races at the Battery Park’s 1 1/8-mile distance.
Hill Road was cross-entered in an allowance at Belmont Park on Thursday, and trainer Whit Beckman said he will not ship to Delaware, shortening the field to five older males.
Bendoog, a 7-year-old trained by Bill Mott, earned his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis in July and will return from an 11-week layoff. In 14 starts since September 2024, he has only finished out of the money once.
Last-out allowance runners Cooke Creek, Cool Intentions, and Magical Ways complete the field. Trainer Jorge Delgado said he expects the first-time gelding Cool Intentions to find more in his second start off an 11-month break.
Rocky Run Stakes
Trainer Brad Cox said he expects the juvenile colt Hammerin Henry to handle his first two-turn test in the $150,000 Rocky Run Stakes on Saturday. The New York-bred will stretch out to a mile after taking down statebred rivals by 4 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
“I thought his last race at Saratoga was impressive,” Cox said. “I thought he broke, put himself in a good tracking spot. He responded when called upon down the lane. Based off pedigree and the way he’s trained, I do think he’ll handle the two turns.”
Hammerin Henry drew the far outside post in the field of eight juveniles, just as he did in his maiden victory last month. Cox said the post could be more challenging around two turns, but it will be a chance for him to use his early speed.
Lithos, a $500,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland September yearling sale, will switch from turf to dirt in his second start for Beckman. The colt showed very little while finishing sixth on the grass in his debut at Saratoga, but Beckman said he was always waiting for longer races on the dirt.
“The horse was tearing the barn down and just waiting on races,” Beckman said. “When you got a horse at that stage, it turns into where you just start going the wrong way. So I got him in, and I thought he ran a good race, got the experience.”
Jorge Delgado said he was eager to get Earth Song, a half-brother to Further Ado, ready for his stakes debut on a three-week turnaround. The colt made his debut Sept. 7 at Monmouth Park and kicked clear to win a maiden special weight by 11 1/4 lengths, earning a 69 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s a Justify horse and he’s a half-sibling to Further Ado,” Delgado said. “Running around two turns, he’s going to be a better horse. The way he travels, I believe he’s the best 2-year-old I have in my barn.”
White Clay Creek
Girvy Girl and Life Changing both went from dominant maiden winners to humbled also-rans in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga earlier this month, but the juvenile fillies will have the chance to get back on track in the $150,000 White Clay Creek Stakes on Saturday.
In her July debut at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Girvy Girl never trailed and dominated five rivals by 15 lengths with a 78 Beyer. She broke slowly in the Spinaway and finished sixth by 17 3/4 lengths.
Meanwhile, Life Changing’s rise on debut and fall next time out were sharper in both directions. After earning an 84 Beyer for a seven-length victory at Saratoga on Aug. 1, the Todd Pletcher trainee was eased in the Spinaway and finished last by 71 lengths.
While the two classy contenders stretch out to a mile for the first time, three in the field of 10 juvenile fillies got experience around two turns in the $100,000 Sorority at Monmouth last month. Spectacular Sam, the runner-up in that race, has improved in two straight starts for Robert Medina, who pegged her as a distance runner early on.
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