Delaware Handicap attractive option for She's a Julie

ELMONT, N. Y. – She’s a Julie, upset winner of Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes, will remain at Belmont Park while her connections mull her next start. One possibility is the Grade 2, $400,000 Delaware Handicap on July 11 at Delaware Park.

This year, the Delaware Handicap has been shortened from its traditional 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles, making it somewhat more appealing for She’s a Julie to trainer Steve Asmussen. Saratoga traditionally has the Shuvee and the Personal Ensign as possible spots for She’s a Julie, but the New York Racing Association has yet to announce its Saratoga stakes schedule. Asmussen also has Midnight Bisou, the reigning older female champion, for the Personal Ensign.

“Right now, the mare will get pet on and peppermints and plenty of hugs and train at Belmont until we decide what is the next race,” Asmussen said of She’s a Julie. “The race at Delaware is appealing.”

She’s a Julie, a 5-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality, outfinished Point of Honor under Ricardo Santana Jr. to win the Phipps by a nose. She earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, to be held Nov. 7 at Keeneland. She’s a Julie earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

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“She’s a great big, steady mare,” Asmussen said. “The racetrack played well, Ricardo gave her a perfect trip. He has great respect for her. He knows her well. All those things added up to a nose victory.”

Ortiz, Castellano to serve days

Jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and Javier Castellano have combined to win 26 of the first 91 races run at the Belmont Park meet. Both, however, will be serving suspensions that will keep them idle until Saturday’s Belmont Stakes card.

Ortiz, who is 14 for 46 at the meet, will not ride Thursday or Friday as he serves the final two days of a three-day suspension issued by the New York stewards for careless riding here June 4. Ortiz missed last Sunday as well.

Ortiz will return Saturday, and among his mounts will be Dr Post in the Belmont.

Castellano, who is 12 for 55 at the meet, will serve a four-day suspension handed him by the Churchill Downs stewards for his ride on Hidden Facts in an allowance race May 30, which resulted in his horse being disqualified from second to sixth.

Castellano will miss Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and June 25. He will be able to ride Saturday, including Farmington Road in the Belmont.