Battery Park a perfect spot for Barbadian Runner to rebound
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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.
The Battery Park is part of a 10-race program that was canceled last Saturday because of an incoming nor’easter. The card, headlined by the Grade 3 Delaware Handicap, was moved in its entirety to this 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 Barbadian Runner, a 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 last week. “He’s recovered well and ready to go.”
In two career starts at Delaware, Barbadian Runner has finished second, 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 ran at Belmont Park last week and will not ship to Delaware, shortening the field to five older males.
Bendoog, a 7-year-old trained by Bill Mott, is still on track to travel to Delaware after picking up his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis in July. In 14 starts since September 2024, he has only finished out of the money once.
“He’s out of allowance conditions, so we’re sort of spotting him around,” Mott said. “Naturally, the [Grade 1] Jockey Club Gold Cup was probably a little deep for him, and hopefully he fits in here.”
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
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 last week. “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, who would have shipped to Delaware for Whit Beckman last week, will instead run in a maiden race on Saturday at Belmont, while Jorge Delgado said Earth Song will scratch and run in the Grade 1 Champagne.
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.
“She didn’t break the best [in the Spinaway] and took dirt for the first time,” Joseph said. “Maybe the winner was just much the best, but I thought she ran a little bit below par. We’re going to stretch her out. We feel like she’ll stretch out, and you never know until you do it, but we’re going to give her a chance.”
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 on Aug. 1 at Saratoga, 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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