Delaware begins meet with Obeah as feature

Delaware Park in Stanton, Del., is set to open its rescheduled 2020 meet on Wednesday with full fields for a 10-race card and plans to welcome spectators ontrack.

Delayed three weeks because of the widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening of Delaware’s meet has coincided with the lifting of some restrictions designed to mitigate the spread of the virus in the state, allowing the track to open its gates to spectators. The track’s casino, which provides subsidies for purses, has been open for two weeks, at reduced hours and capacity.

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The track plans to run 65 days this year, down from the 85 dates initially planned, with racing conducted on a Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday schedule, at least for the first four weeks of racing. After July 16, the track will add Thursdays to the mix through the end of the meet on Oct. 17.

First post on each live racing day will be 1:15 p.m., and with limited options for entertainment in most areas of the country, the track could become something of a popular destination on pleasant summer days. However, Delaware Park said Monday night that spectators will be limited to 3,000 people, and that all visitors will be required to have a face mask when they enter the property. Face masks will be required for all patrons indoors, while face masks will be “strongly encouraged” for those in outdoor areas of the property.

Track officials also said Monday that security personnel will be on hand to direct congregations of people who are not complying with social-distancing protocols to separate, except for those people from the same household. The track’s simulcasting area in the clubhouse is already open and will be available on Wednesday, and the track’s apron and its “grove” area around the paddock will have seating available.

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The highlight of the opening-day card is the $100,000 Obeah Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, a local stepping-stone to the track’s signature Delaware Handicap, a Grade 2 stakes that annually attracts top-class mares. Twelve fillies or mares have drawn into the race.

The 7-2 morning-line favorite in the Obeah is Lady Apple, a 4-year-old Curlin filly trained by Steve Asmussen who won 5 of 7 starts in 2019, including three Grade 3 stakes. She comes into the Obeah off an eighth-place finish in the April 18 Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, where she was well out of her class. This field suits her much better, and she’s posted several decent works in the weeks leading up to the Obeah. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the ride out of post 4.

Gotham Gala, winner of the Obeah last year, is the co-second choice in the field at 5-1. Trainer Arnaud Delacour said the 5-year-old mare “is doing great” while acknowledging that her most recent performances have been “so-so.”

Gotham Gala was fourth in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct late last year, and this will be her first start of the 2020 season. Gotham Gala posted a bullet four-furlong work on June 13 at Maryland’s Fair Hill Training Center in her sharpening for the Obeah.

“I think she is ready to redeem herself,” Delacour said.

Delacour also has Fashion Faux Pas in the race, listed at 8-1 on the morning line, coming out of the eight hole. The remainder of the field, in post-position order, is: Bronx Beauty, Wicked Awesome, Trolley Ride, Ujjayi, Vault, Afleet Destiny, Lucky Move, Motion Emotion, and Trace of Grace.