Dean Delivers continues winning summer with Rumson Stakes

Dean Delivers did not win the $100,000 Rumson Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park like a 2-5 shot should, but win he did, overcoming a tough trip for a half-length victory, his fourth straight score, all in stakes competition.

The margin of victory doesn’t come close to telling the whole tale. Drawn in post 2, Dean Delivers wound up with the inside post after Hurricane J was scratched. Going just five furlongs, jockey Jaime Rodriguez hardly could take back after his mount broke sharply, but after briefly establishing a clear lead, Dean Delivers got heated early pressure from Five Dreams, who had a narrow lead on the backstretch, with Dean Delivers pinned to the fence.

Stalking outside from third, poised to pounce, was Speaking, who attacked on the turn and briefly took a lead, Five Dreams winding up fourth between horses approaching the quarter pole. Dean Delivers shuffled to third as Downtownchalybrown then looped everyone from the No. 4 path.

Down on the rail, Dean Delivers wasn’t backing off, holding his position gamely and engaging Downtownchalybrown turning for home as the others fell away. Downtownchalybrown held the advantage at the stretch call, but Dean Delivers went off such a short price because he looked far superior to his rivals, and, accordingly, he surged to reclaim the advantage in the final half-furlong and was going away at the end.

Trainer Ned Allard tried to remain confident when things looked bleak on the turn.

“It was a little nerve-wracking, though,” Allard said.

Dean Delivers now is 4 for 4 for Allard, unbeaten since leaving his longtime base in South Florida to train at Delaware Park. He won a stakes race there in July after landing the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth and came into the Rumson after capturing the $150,000 DeFrancis Dash at Laurel.

“How good is he? I think his form speaks for itself right now,” said Allard, who trains Dean Delivers for his breeder, Stonehedge.

Downtownchalybrown ran well in defeat, finishing two lengths ahead of third-place Five Dreams. Dean Delivers was timed in 57.72 over a fast track and paid $2.80. The 5-year-old gelding is by Cajun Breeze out of Slick and True, by Is It True.

And yes, it’s true – Dean Delivers has proven unbeatable this summer.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.